AFTER completing my university-level education, I spent almost two long years hoping to gain valuable experience and professional growth. Little did I know that the job market can be an unforgiving beast, sucking the life out of youth like a relentless parasite, all while offering the temporary solace of monthly pay cheque that turns one into an unwitting captive. In dealing with their teaching staff, school administrations are just as whimsical as they are in increasing the monthly tuition fee which has an inverse relationship with the monthly salaries.

These years were a nightmare, and, to top it off, I was working as a teacher in a private school. The sheer workload was beyond what any human can, or should, endure, and the salary was a meagre pittance, barely scraping above Rs30,000. The so-called `demi gods` of the educational institution, namely the management, had us dancing to their tune; and they were pretty lousy tunes.

Our entire day at work hinged on their fickle moods. Asking for an early departure meant subjecting yourself to ridicule and ironic comments. The audacity of wanting to leave an hour early never went down well with the management staff.

Such incidents, however, were not isolated; there were countless humiliations I, and my colleagues, endured in that toxic environment. The worst kind of humiliation would occur during professional meetings, where we would be singled out in front of everyone.We, the teachers, were publicly shamed and called irresponsible and absent-minded, and were even accused of dodging our responsibilities. It was as if they took pleasure in demeaning their own staff, and each instance left a lasting mark on my self-esteem and motivation.

Moreover, teachers` value was hinged less on their true merit and more on things like how well they decorated their classrooms, played nice with school authorities, and mastered the art of manipulating parents into showering praises on the school. All this happened while neglecting the core essentials of effective teaching.

These tyrants wielded power that was unchecked, and they held our careers and wellbeing in their hands, and theybehaved as if they were infallible beings who deserved unquestioning obedience.

These institutions epitomised the worst aspects of authority, using their positions to lord over us and in the process strip us of our dignity.

There is an urgent need for effective government intervention to rein in these self-proclaimed `demi gods` of private schools, and demand fair compensation for teachers based on the hours worked.

The private sector should create a respectful working environment and learn to bear, if not welcome, dissent.

The system needs to change. It really does. It should be a system that values educators and recognises their dedication.

Rakhshanda Abbas Gilgit