Punjab teachers stage massive protest against govt privatization policies

LAHORE: Hundreds of teachers in Punjab, Pakistan, staged a massive protest and sit-in outside the Civil Secretariat on Thursday, demanding the reversal of several controversial policies introduced by the Punjab government.

Led by the Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) and prominent Grand Teachers Alliance (GTA) leaders, including Chaudhry Bashir Warraich, Rana Anwarul Haq, Rana Liaqat, and Kashif Shehzad, the protest aimed to address key concerns.

The teachers sought a reversal of the privatization of 13,000 public schools to NGOs, citing concerns over education quality and job security. Other demands included unconditional promotions for senior educators, time-scale promotions, and in-service promotions for all teacher cadres.

They also called for the rehabilitation of school infrastructure, the establishment of new science and computer labs, restoration of leave encashment, pension reforms, income tax reforms, recruitment of new teachers, and issuance of computer and head teacher allowances.

The GTA leadership expressed frustration over the government’s failure to implement past agreements and address their grievances. “Our protest is peaceful, but the administration is provoking us with negative strategies,” they said, emphasizing that peaceful protest is their constitutional and legal right.

The teachers opposed the handover of schools to NGOs, warning that it would destroy the education system. The ongoing teacher transfer round was described as chaotic and mentally exhausting for educators. GTA leaders urged teachers across the province to resist intimidation tactics and participate in the protest.

The protest highlighted the ongoing tensions between Punjab’s teachers and the government, with educators demanding meaningful reforms to protect their rights and ensure quality education.