KHYBER: A protest rally of the sacked teachers was held at Bacha Square, Landi Kotal Bazaar on Monday against their eight months arrears and discontinuation of their jobs by the education department.
Numbers of the affected teachers, accompanied by councillors, carrying placards inscribed with slogans in favor of their demands.
Speaking on the occasion, central President of the union of contract teachers, Atif Khan said that the contract teachers had posted in government-run schools in 2022 across the merged districts on a need basis through proper procedure.
However, after two years their contract was discontinued and they were fired without paying them eight months arrears that was unfair to them, he added.
He said that the contract posting not only fulfilled the deficiency of the teaching staff in the schools but also restored parents’ trust in the state-run schools.
The government should reinstate them and pay them their arrears as soon as possible, he suggested.
The protesters threatened that if their demands were not addressed then they would organize a protest demonstration on Oct 23, 2024 in front of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly.
As per a local education official, the discontinuation of contract-based teachers was due to lack of funds and their service tenure was initially for one year.
Permanent teachers would be considered to address the teachers’ shortage, he remarked.
It is to be stated here that the education department had posted 3000 teachers (male-female) across the merged tribal region to fill the deficiency of teaching staff in government-run schools.
