HYDERABAD, Dec 12: The regional president of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association, Mr Khadim Khoso, has called for recruitment of teachers through the Sindh Public Service Commission, instead of appointment on contract basis.

He was speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected office-bearers of the association at the Government Zubaida Girls' College on Saturday night.

He said that during a reconciliation meeting between the SPLA and Sindh education authorities, it was agreed that appointment of teachers would be made through the SPSC instead of on contract basis, but unfortunately the minutes of the meeting had not been communicated till date.

He said political activities in educational institutions were responsible for deteriorating standard of education. He said strict administrative steps were needed to create peaceful atmosphere and a sense of security for students and teaching community in educational institutions.

Mr Khoso said that promotions of lecturers and professors was also pending with the government and added that the notification about the recommendations of departmental promotion committee to promote 196 lecturers from 17 to 18 grade had not been issued as yet.

Similarly, he said, the notification for promotion of professors recommended by the DPC in March 2003 from grade 19 to 20 was also pending. He said the SPLA did not agree with the government policy of denationalisation of education institutions adding that it would make education more costly.

Mr Khoso was of the view that shortage of teachers, lack of modern facilities and political interference in educational institutions were the main causes for declining educational standards.

Earlier, the principal of the Government College Pareetabad, Mr Mohsin Atta, who was also the chairman of the election commission for SPLA elections, administered oath to newly elected office-bearers.