HARIPUR, Nov 1: At least 135 teachers and over 40 support staff working in various educational institutions being run by a joint board (T&T colony education board) of the Telephone Industries of Pakistan (TIP), National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) and Telecom Staff College, Haripur, are likely to be sacked by the end of this year.

This was disclosed by Tahir Afsar Khan Jadoon, vice-principal of the Telecom Public School and College, T&T Colony, Haripur, at a meeting attended by a number of teachers, support staff and office-bearers of the Workers and Employees Union of the TIP, at the Telecom High School for Boys, here on Saturday.

The teachers had earlier taken out a protest procession to denounce the proposed sacking by the T&T board authorities.

Briefing the participants who had gathered to chalk out future strategy in this regard, Mr Jadoon said that the T&T colony education board director had verbally informed them that the board had, in line with PTCL's policy of downsizing, decided to terminate the services of all the 55 male and 80 female teachers and 43 support staff including class IV clerks of the Telecom Boys Public School & College; Telecom Girls Public School and College; and Telecom Boys Urdu Medium School for Boys form December 31.

Quoting the director, Mr Jadoon said that only those teachers would be retained who would accept the new salary package, which included Rs4000 for graduates with B-Ed qualification and Rs6000 for master degree holders.

The participants, including female teaching staff, criticized the decision of terminating the services of a large number of teachers, clerical and other support staff without giving due benefits.

They said that 60 per cent of contract and 40 per cent permanent teaching staff had been serving for the past 20 years.

They contested the official viewpoint pertaining to financial losses to the institutions, adding that the school and colleges being run under the T&T colony board were in fact earning profit in terms of subsidy offered to entitled children.

They demanded the shelving of such policy, which would not only deprive many of their source of livelihood but also their children of right of education.

They warned to use every option of protest if the decision was not reversed.

The TIP union leaders also expressed solidarity with the would-be affected staff.

Though T&T Colony Education Board Chairman Masood was not available for comments, another high ranking official of the TIP, requesting anonymity, said that the decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the TIP board held in Islamabad last week where the participants discussed the deteriorating economic condition of the organization and took strong exception of heavy expenditures of education institutions jointly run by the NRTC, TIP and TSC.

He said the meeting agreed on remodelling of education system and run all the institutions on self-finance basis.

He however did not confirm whether the termination letters or any alteration in their organizational status of the teachers and staff had been issued or not.

The Telecom Boys Public School and College has a total strength of 500 students and 25 teachers and earns Rs2.1 million, while its expenditure is over Rs3.5 million.

About 1,800 students are studying at the Telecom Girls Public School and College and earns Rs300,000 while its monthly expenditures crosses well over Rs600,000.

Likewise, as many as 800 students are enrolled in the Telecom Boys Urdu Medium School and its monthly income stands at Rs50,000, while its spending is reportedly Rs400,000.