KARACHI: A large number of college teachers staged a protest rally on Monday, demanding immediate implementation of the five-tier service structure formula, direct recruitment on vacant posts, increase in house rent, conveyance and medical allowances and measures to improve condition of colleges.

The rally, organised by Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA), Karachi region, was taken out from the Govt S.M. Arts and Commerce College and turned into a protest sit-in when it reached at the Sindh Secretariat.

Carrying banners and placards and raising slogans in favour of their demands, the protesters criticised official indifference over their protest movement that had been continuing across the province for over a month.

`It`s unfortunate that the education minister hasn`t made any con-tacts. This shows his lack of interest in matters concerning college education,` said SPLA President Prof Munawwar Abbas.

The teachers expressed concern over what they described as deteriorating standards of education and lack of academic facilities in colleges, demanding immediate government steps to bring an improvement.

They called upon the government to take teachers on board and sortout the problems plaguing educational institutions and affecting teachers`performance.

The teachers announced that the next rally would be organised towards the Bilawal House on Feb12.

The speakers included Prof Adeel Khawja, Prof Asif Muneer, Prof Shabana Afzal, Prof Mir Bahar, Prof Abdur Rasheed, Prof Zahid Lateef, Prof Shafaq Zehra and Prof Naveed Ali.