SWABI, Dec 18: Teachers of the Swabi district will observe a two-day hunger strike on Dec 19 and 20 to pressure the authorities over their demands. This was decided at a protest meeting of the Swabi chapter of All-Teachers Association (ATA), held at the Maneri Bala Government High School, said a press release issued here on Monday.

At the meeting, different leaders of the teaching community aired their views over the situation obtaining in state-run schools, accusing the government of following a “policy of victimisation”.

They slammed the authorities for their “apathy” towards the teaching community and vowed to continue their fight until the achievement of their rights. They also announced a plan of action on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, ATA’s provincial vice-president Mohammad Tariq said the teachers would hold the hunger strike in front of the Mardan Katchery on Dec 19 and 20 and if this failed to force the government to resolve their problems, more protests would be organised.

He said 32 junior teachers had been placed in the surplus pool in the district while no head teacher had been declared surplus, adding that this was a great injustice to the junior teachers.

ATA general secretary Zar Nabi Khan said the minister of finance had announced in his budget speech for 2006-2007 that all teachers would be given higher qualification allowance, but the provincial minister had not lived up to his promises.

A resolution was also passed on the occasion. Through the resolution, the teachers demanded that all their demands be resolved as quickly as possible.