PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Professors and Lecturers Association here on Thursday held a protest demonstration against the provincial government for its failure to upgrade them and approve service structure for them.

The protesting college teachers threatened to stage a sit-in outside the residence of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan in Banigala, Islamabad if their demands were not met.

The association member s gathere d out side Peshawar Press Club and chanted slogans against the provincial government. They were holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands for approval of service structure, raise in salaries and promotions.

Yar Mohammad Toofan and Khalid Khattak, the leaders of protesters, told journalists that during a meeting with delegation of the association in November 2016, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had promised to resolve their problems on priority basis but he didn`t honour his promise.

Prof Toofan said that college teachers didn`t want to take to streets but they were forced to hold protest demonstrations for acceptance of their demands. He said that they were also government employees and deserved to be given all incentives.

He said that teachers were struggling for one-step upgradation and professional allowance but the government was using delaying tactics in that regard.

Prof Toofan also expressed concerns over changes in rules for boards of intermediate and secondary education and demanded restoration of the previous system wherein the college teachers supervised the boards.

Prof Khattak also said that performance of boards had been badly affected since secretary of elementary education was tasked with their supervision.

He said that professors and lecturers knew how to supervise the boards but they were not given a chance.

Bureau Report