SIALKOT, May 14: As many as 50,000 male and female science and mathematics teachers in the Punjab have been deprived of a 15 per cent special allowance and other increments for the last four years.

This was disclosed by Muhammad Naeem, media secretary to the district educators' association, while talking to newsmen here on Friday.

He said that the provincial government had recruited as many as 50,000 science and math teachers on an ad-hoc basis in Sept 2000, but no policy was formulated for enhancing their salaries.

Mr Naeem said that due to this "technical mistake" of the provincial education department, these teachers were deprived of a 15 per cent special allowance and other increments.

He said that in a summary sent to the provincial education department six months ago, the finance department said it had "no objection" to payment of these benefits to teachers but the summary was yet to be approved by the education department.

"The situation is disheartening for teachers and is forcing them to quit their jobs," he added, urging the Punjab chief minister to allocate funds in the forthcoming budget for the purpose besides approving their annual promotion since 2000. He urged the government to regularize the services of teachers.

'NEGLIGENCE': There have been no elementary classes at Barthanwala girls' schools and Challekey boys' school since these schools were upgraded from the primary to the elementary level four years ago.