Salam Teachers Day

Salam Teachers Day Report From Different Cities

Lahore

AMID cries over unsatisfactory salary, service structure, lack of facilities and opportunities, inconsistency in policies and above all the “stigma” attached to the noble profession of teaching, the World Teachers Day will be celebrated in Pakistan like other parts of the world on Monday (today).

It is a bitter reality that the profession of teaching especially school-teaching is no more a first choice of people in our part of the world and majority of those who go for this, join this profession under compulsion.

The deteriorating socio-economic status of schoolteachers should be an eye-opener and a matter of serious concern for those at the helm as no society can move forward without active participation of these agents of change.

The feeling of neglect is a strong sentiment our teachers harbour as they frequently complain that they are not consulted in key policy decisions even those directly related to education sector of the country.

Unfortunately, schools, colleges and universities’ teachers can easily be differentiated in our part of the world on the basis of socio-economic status in the society despite the fact that they perform similar duty of imparting knowledge. It is a bitter fact that the college teachers are “envious” of university teachers while those teaching at schools want to get status and recognition of college teachers.

The condition of schoolteachers serving in private educational institutions, especially in schools, is a matter of serious concern as they frequently complain about low salary structure, unfavourable working environment and above all insecurity of job.

A representative of schoolteachers, Hafiz Abdul Nasir commenting over the issue said the socio-economic status of teachers especially schoolteachers needed to be improved. He said primary education is most important as it is like lying foundation of a building. Unfortunately this very part is rapidly deteriorating in the country owing to indifferent attitude of the authorities, he lamented.

He further said primary schoolteachers should be offered better pay packages so that they perform their duties with more devotion and commitment without worrying for bread and butter issues. He also demanded the government to announce housing scheme for schoolteachers saying the ever-increasing inflation had made it impossible for teachers to build a house despite after serving till retirement.

A college teacher said teaching is highly paid and highly respected profession in the West but unfortunately the same is not the case in Pakistan. He said with the rapidly changing world the profession now required highly skilled individuals adding unfortunately no practical measures were being taken by the authorities for capacity building of teachers.

Islamabad

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have urged all stakeholders, civil society organisations and the people to play their role in restoring the teaching profession to its pristine glory and acknowledge role of teachers in education development.

In a message on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day falling on October 5, he said the day should serve as a reminder that teacher is the most central element and critical link in the chain of educational development.

The President said, “In the scheme of education a teacher is like the thread that holds the beads together. They are our soldiers in fighting the battle of minds and ideas.”

“Just as wars cannot be fought with materials and weapons alone so the fight for minds and ideas too cannot be fought by material resources alone. No material investment in brick and mortar or in the laboratories and text books can replace the intellectual and spiritual stimulus that is provided by the teacher alone.”

“The observance of the World Teachers’ Day today therefore should awaken us to realise our social responsibility to give the teachers their rightful place in the society.”

“Students want to see their teachers radiate sincerity and commitment as they spread knowledge and wisdom. They expect and want to see them as missionaries and as leaders who inspire and motivate them to greater heights, Zardari said adding, “Remember that no matter what height is attained by a student his teacher will always stand at a higher pedestal.”

Gilani in his message called upon Pakistanis to acknowledge teachers as role models and source of inspiration.

“Today, the entire world is celebrating the World Teachers’ Day. We too in Pakistan join hands with the world community in paying homage and respect to our teachers, who in so many ways have made a difference in our lives,” he said.

“When we look back at the turning points in our lives, we invariably find a beacon in the form of a teacher, who though humble in appearance in all odds, with sheer conviction and commitment, has been busy in shaping our lives for our better future,” he added.

He thanked his teachers for guiding him through an important phase of his life.

Karachi

The theme for this year’s World Teachers’ Day, to be commemorated on October 5 (today), is “Build the future: invest in teachers now”.

World Teachers’ Day has been commemorated since 1994 when it was created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for teachers all over the world.

“The main purpose of World Teachers’ Day is to build peace in the minds of human beings through education. This is why the day is aimed to mobilise support for teachers. As per UNESCO recommendations, it is an occasion to celebrate the essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all levels,” according to UNESCO. “World Teachers’ Day remembers the anniversary of the signing in 1966 of the UNESCO and ILO recommendation regarding the ‘status of teachers’. This day also brings attention to the global problem of the shortage of teachers and the challenges of being a teacher today.”

Meanwhile, Sindh Professors and Lecturers’ Association President Muzafar Ali Rizvi said that teachers and lecturers have been suffering a lot in the country, particularly in Karachi. There are approximately 550 ad hoc lecturers waiting for their salaries for the past four months, Rizvi told The News. Most of them were selected and hired on regular basis but they were still deprived of their salaries, he added.

“There is no proper and timely dealing of service matters of teachers in Karachi and no promotion in grades 19 and 20 has been made since 2001,” he said. “Almost 81 cases are due for promotion in grades 19 and 20, while 538 lecturers in grades 17 and 18 have not yet received promotion orders despite the fact that they cleared every procedure in March.”

Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister, Sharmila Farooqui, has said that the Sindh government will soon enhance the basic scale of teachers’ pay from BPS-7 to 9; 9 to 11 and 11 to 13, besides providing them with a monthly allowance of Rs1,000.

“The matter is under consideration and teachers will get some good news soon,” Farooqui said in a statement. She further said that teachers were being appointed in Sindh only on merit under the World Bank’s Reform Programme.

“There are 3,000,000 teachers throughout the country, of whom Sindh has only 250,000,” she said, adding that teachers play a vital role in building the future of the new generation.

“The government is making efforts to raise the standard of education and this is why lecturers and professors are being sent abroad on scholarships for receiving higher education in various fields, particularity in science and technology,” she added.