PESHAWAR, Jan 22: Teachers associations staged a protest demonstration here on Wednesday to express anguish over the proposed model university ordinance.

The protesters brought out a rally from the Teachers Community Centre and culminated at the main gate of

the University of Peshawar, where it was addressed by the leaders of the different teachers bodies.

The demonstration, staged under the banner of a joint action committee, was attended by over 250 teachers, including women teachers.

Academic activities at schools, colleges and the university remained suspended as about 2,000 teachers observed a boycott of classes and the academic institutes wore a deserted look.

The protesting teachers raised slogans against the proposed model university ordinance. They were carrying banners inscribed with slogans against the law.

Speaking on the occasion, Peshawar University Teachers Association president Arbab Khan alleged that the ordinance was being promulgated at the behest of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

He was of the view that the ordinance would cause a severe blow to the government efforts to increase the literacy rate as it would deprive the poor students of free education facility.

The ordinance was aimed at converting educational institutions into business ventures, he added.

Arbab said that since May last, they had received 16 different versions of the same ordinance, which had made a mess of things.

He asked the government to come up with a clear policy regarding the education sector in order to remove the prevalent unrest among the teachers and the students.

Arbab said that the campaign against the proposed ordinance would continue till it was withdrawn by the government.

He said it was correct that there were flaws in the education system, but the government, in consultation with teachers and students, should incorporate amendments to the Universities Act, 1974, to update it in line with the present day’s requirements.

He said that a countrywide protest day would be observed against the ordinance on Jan 29 to press the government to postpone its implementation.

He said that a meeting of the representatives of teachers associations would be held in Peshawar in February to chalk out future strategy.

Later, the protesting teachers dispersed peacefully.

The demonstration was attended by Peshawar University Teachers Association, Agricultural University Teachers Association, Engineering University Teachers Association, Peshawar University School Teachers Association and Islamia College Teachers Association.