ISLAMABAD :07 June: As many as 133 English teachers of BPS-14 have been upgraded to BPS-16, who earlier could not be upgraded to the next grades as they lacked qualification criteria.Among them 38 are male English teachers and 95 female English teachers who are upgraded as trained graduate teachers (TGTs) with effect from January 1, 2011. The notification of their upgradation was issued on Tuesday by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) while the orders of their upgradation will be distributed among them at a ceremony going to be being held Thursday (today). Earlier, about 700 teachers were upgraded from grade 14 to 16 in May 2011 but about 170 teachers could not be promoted as the Establishment Division had set some preconditions making it difficult for them to get upgradation. According to information the directorate had terminated the services of these 170 teachers raising objections that they do not have the certificates of BEd. CT. Later on, on the directives of the Supreme Court, the directorate regularized them and now after getting the required certificates they have been upgraded to the next grades. The remaining English Teachers would also be upgraded to the next grades as soon as they acquire the said certificates. Federal Govt Teachers’ Association (FGTA) President Azhar Mahmood Awan said with this, the upgradation process of schoolteachers has almost been completed and over 6000 teachers have been upgraded from grade 9 to 14, grade 14 to 16, and 16 to 17. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had announced teachers’ package on Nov 8, 2010. But the implementation faced a significant delay forcing teachers to launch a massive protest campaign. The protests and boycotts accelerated the process and although the upgradation of few cadres still lingering on but majority of the teachers have been upgraded. It’s important to be mentioned that, though, over 800 English Teachers have been upgraded as TGTs but they have not been getting the benefits of grade 16 as the AGPR has refused to release their dues raising objections. According to information the directorate had re-designated the posts of English Teachers as TGTs on their own bypassing the Establishment Division that was objected by the AGPR and caused delays in the release of their dues. Now the FDE has moved a summary to the Establishment Division for re-designating the posts as TGTs so that their salaries could be released.Nation.