MIANWALI: Teachers of the Government Model Primary School in Mohallah Fateh Khelanwwala, Piplan chose a novel way to protest against the headmistress and security guard of the school by shifting all students to the adjacent Eidgah and taking classes on the floor.

The nine teachers of the school were unhappy with, what they called, the unprofessional attitude of their principal who allegedly humiliated them regularly in front of the students without any reason, as well as other objections.

The teachers also alleged that the headmistress prepared expense bills with a pencil and forced them to sign. On their objection, she claimed she would rewrite the bills with pen later and was using the pencil for fear of any mistake. They said they smelled corruption in the headmistress’s approach.

The teachers also questioned the character of the security guard whom they claimed was a favourite of the headmistress. They said the school also lacked basic facilities and the principal never paid heed to ensuring their provision.

Six months ago, they had reported in writing to the Mianwali education chief executive officer (CEO) and all other authorities concerned to immediately transfer the headmistress along with the guard to maintain a cordial and healthy atmosphere at the school for teachers as well as students, but to no avail. Resultantly, they were forced to shift all the students to the nearby Eidgah that had a boundary wall and take classes there.

Education CEO Syed Waheeduddin Shah told Dawn that he had constituted an inquiry committee to look into the matter and it will submit a report to him on Thursday (today). He will review the report and take action as per rules to ease the situation.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2020