HYDERABAD, Feb 24: On the call of the Government Secondary Teachers' Association, the teachers boycotted classes and took out processions throughout Sindh on Tuesday. The protest was observed to pressure the education authorities to accept the teachers' demands, including restoration of job quota for offsprings of teachers.
Hundreds of government teachers of the district took out a protest procession here on Tuesday against the anti-teachers policies of the Sindh Education Minister Irfanullah Marwat.
Led by GSTA president Abdul Ghani Kumbhar, vice-president Allah Dino Mallah, district president Mohammad Safar Memon and others, the procession culminated at the local press club.
Speaking to the protesters, Mr Kumbhar said that the education minister had refused to implement the already accepted demands of the teachers which had created unrest among them. He warned that the teachers could not guarantee the holding of the secondary school certificate examinations in a peaceful manner if their problems were not resolved.
Denouncing the practice of appointments on contract basis, Mr Mallah said regular budget was available for permanent posts but teachers were being appointed on contract basis.
Mr Memon accused the education minister of violating rules and regulations and enforcing his own directives while regretting that the Sindh government and assembly members were not taking any notice of the violations.
They adopted several resolutions demanding restoration of the employment quota, appointments on permanent basis, repeal of the new group insurance policy, payment of salaries to teachers appointed under the middle school project and resumption of talks on the charter of demands submitted by the GSTA.
SUKKUR: Hundreds of teachers of the district, led by GSTA president Abdul Aziz Kalhoro and secretary-general Mohammad Bux Mahar, boycotted classes and took out a procession. The teachers after marching through different roads staged a sit-in outside the press club.
LARKANA: After boycotting classes, a large number of secondary school teachers took out a procession here on Tuesday. Led by GSTA district chief Abdul Rasheed Chandio and carrying banners and placards, the protesters chanted slogans, calling for the removal of the Sindh education minister.
The protestors also staged a sit-in outside Jinnah Bagh that disturbed vehicular traffic for half an hour. Then they assembled outside the district council hall where their leaders delivered speeches.
Criticizing "hollow claims" of the minister about observing merit in teachers' recruitment, the speakers alleged that Mr Marwat was receiving bribe through his agents for postings and transfers.
DADU: Classes were boycotted in the schools of Dadu, Sehwan, Johi, Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah. The teachers also boycotted ongoing school examinations in different parts of the district.
KHAIRPUR: Teachers of Khairpur district took out a procession from the Government Comprehensive Higher Secondary School.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: On the call of the GSTA, a large procession was taken out from a school to the DCO office here.
MIRPURKHAS: Hundreds of secondary teachers held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Tuesday for the acceptance of their demands.
The protest was held under the aegis of the Government Secondary Teachers Association, Mirpurkhas, and was led by its president Iqbal Panhwar. Carrying banners and placards, the teachers earlier took out a procession from the Government High School.