HYDERABAD, March 8: The Pakistan Women Teachers’ Association has deplored the apathy of authorities concerned towards resolving women teachers’ problems.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Saturday to mark the International Women Day, the provincial president of the association, Farkhanda Akhtar, secretary-general Shugufta Begum, information secretary Fareeda Yasmin and others said the government and NGOs had been observing the women day but no practical steps had been taken to resolve women’s problems.

They said the government had repeatedly declared women teachers should be posted in schools near their homes but many teachers had been posted in far-flung areas, creating difficulties for them and their families.

They said many of Hyderabad teachers had been posted in Matiari, Hala, Shahdadpur, Saeedabad, Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Mirpur Bathoro, Golarchi and Umerkot.

The office-bearers of the association said the teachers had to spend Rs1,500 per month on bus fares but they were not paid any conveyance allowance and their house rent was also 15 per cent less than city teachers.

They pointed out according to the government announcement, thousands of posts of teaching and non-teaching staff were lying vacant but neither seniority lists were prepared nor promotion and move-over cases were decided.

They said girls schools and colleges had not been provided with facilities like clean drinking water, furniture, scientific equipment and books for library.

They appealed to the Women Commission and women MNAs and MPAs to raise these issues on the floor of assemblies and resolve problems of the teachers.