HYDERABAD, March 7: The Government Secondary Teachers Association, Sindh, will not only boycott the SSC examinations but also practical examinations, assessment of copies and election duties.

This was said by GSTA president Ghani Kumbhar and other leaders at a news conference here on Sunday. They accused the Sindh education minister of destroying the educational atmosphere of Sindh by taking arbitrary and unilateral decisions in educational matters.

They said the association had approached authorities concerned through telegrams, fax messages and memoranda about the problems confronting the teachers but without any results.

They claimed teachers had made all efforts to resolve the problems without resorting to protest but in vain. They said instead of resolving the problems, the Sindh education minister was blowing the trumpet of merit but trampling over the principle of merit in practice thereby forcing the teachers to agitate against him.

The GSTA leaders demanded the already approved employment quota of 25 per cent for teachers' children should be restored, the recruitment policy which had been in force for years should be followed in accordance with the devolution plan, the notification in respect of the appointment of children of deceased teachers should be implemented and unattractive area allowance should be granted to the secondary teachers on the pattern of college teachers.

They said separate EDOs of schools and colleges should be appointed in Sindh's districts on the pattern of its capital city and the remuneration for theory and practical examinations, chemical charges and other duties of secondary teachers should be brought at par with the higher secondary teachers.

The GSTA leaders demanded that the grant of advance increments, move-over and selection grade should be restored and uniform house rent, according to 2001 pay scale, should be given to the teachers serving in rural and urban areas.