Islamabad:The teachers working under various federal government academic institutions have threatened to launch a series of protest demonstrations if the government would transfer key powers of the Ministry of Education to provinces under 18th Amendment.
In a press conference held here on Wednesday by Central Academic Staff Association, the teachers demanded of the government to reconsider its decision regarding the devolution of powers to provinces. “What would become of the teachers and employees working under various federal education institutions? Handing over education institutions to ICT would end up in nothing but disaster,” said Central Academic Staff Association spokesperson Professor Aftab Tariq.

He said that the protest would start from February 14 in which initially employees of federal government education institutions would wear black arms band, as a protest but the protest could end up in some extreme action if their demands are not met. “More than 0.2 million students are studying and 13,500 teachers are teaching in federal government education institutions whose future would end if these institutions are transferred to ICT,” he said.

He informed that teachers and employees working under federal institutions held several meetings with federal minister for education and secretary but all their efforts seemed to prove futile. “The minister and secretary assured us that they would try their level best to convince the decision makers to keep the Ministry of Education intact with the federal government who they seemingly have failed in their efforts,” he added.
The teachers were of the opinion that implementation commission have not taken the stakeholders onboard. “Before finalizing the law, the government should have taken us on board and should have asked for our suggestions,” said Central Academic Staff Association President Dr Javed Kauser.

He said that the implementation of teachers’ package announced by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani also seems dubious under current circumstances. The announcement made by the PM included that the teachers from Islamabad Colleges for Boys and Girls.
Islamabad Model Colleges for Boys and Girls and Federal Government Schools and Colleges were to be up-graded under the Time Scale Promotion Formula (TSPF), end of evening shift in model colleges and giving the status of model colleges to all colleges working under federal directorate.

“What would happen to the teachers’ package if the ministry is dissolved? It will once again hang in balance,” he said.

He said that there would be countless problems generated after the devolution of Ministry of Education. “There would be no uniform curriculum, no coherence and no implementation of teacher’s package if the ministry would be devolved,” he added.

He said that teachers and employees working under various federal government education institutions appeal to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Implementation Commission Chairperson Mian Raza Rabbani to review their decision regarding the devolution of powers of ministries, as it would put the future of students as well as teachers at stake.The news