PESHAWAR: Hundreds of Pakistani teachers, who provided education to Afghan children in refugee camps for decades, but were laid off without any financial relief, protested here on Tuesday against the ‘abrupt’ layoffs.
As many as 291 teachers, who have been providing education to Afghan children under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the past 35 to 40 years, have been laid off without prior notice or any financial relief.
The affected teachers, including 100 men and 191 women, were reportedly dismissed from service on Oct 31. They belong to Peshawar, Mardan, Timergara,Nowshera, Swabi, Haripur, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Hangu, Tall, Chakdara, and Jalala Shergarh.
The dismissed teachers demanded compensation and financial relief for their decades ofservice.
The protest was led by Tufail Ahmed and Farhana Durrani, who heads the women teachers. Addressing the protesters, Mr Ahmed said they had devoted nearly four decades of their lives to educating Afghan children in refugee camps but had been dismissed through a single administrative decision without any notice or relief.
He said the teachers had already been deprived of medical allowances, other financial benefits and gratuity despite serving in schools established in Afghanrefugee camps for decades.
‘We served the institution for four decades, but were sent home at the stroke of a pen without any compensation or relief,’ he said.
On the occasion, Ms Durrani said she had spent 35 years teaching Afghan children and had worked tirelessly to fulfil her responsibilities.
‘After 35 years of dedicated service, the UNHCR sent us home through a single phone call, without providing any financial relief,’ she said.
The protesters said the sudden termination of their employment had pushed hundreds of families into severe financial difficulties, with many struggling to meet even their basic household expenses.
They complained that despite repeat-edly visiting the UNHCR office to present their grievances, no official was willing to hear them or engage in dialogue.
They further alleged that instead of addressing their concerns, the office had closed its doors to them and deployed police personnel outside, with protesters being warned of a possible baton charge.
They appealed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to intervene and play his role in securing relief for the affected teachers and their families.
A large number of young and elderly women teachers also participated in the sit-in, demanding recognition of their decades-long services and financial assistance following their dismissal.