he hundreds of teachers who have not been paid their salaries for the last few months observed Oct 5, which is celebrated across the globe as World Teacher`s Day, as a black day and protested outside the National Press Club on Thursday.

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is yet to decide the regularisation cases of some 2,000 daily wage employees, including 800 teachers who have been performing duties in various colleges and schools for the last many years.

`Five years on, we are yet to decide the matter. The teachers who were appointed on daily wage through references and who are not competent should be laid off and those who have given good results should be given permanent jobs, but this is no way to treat teachers,` an FDE official said.

A daily wage teacher at the Islamabad Model College for Boys G-6, Nadeem Tori said his colleagues and him have been observing teacher`s day as a black day for five years because their services are not being regularised and because there is no proper mechanism for paying them their salaries, he said, adding that he has been waiting for his salary for several months now.

FDE Director General Hasnat Qureshi said efforts are being made for releasing the salaries of daily wage employees.

`We have moved a summary to the finance ministry for the release of funds,` he said.

`The Islamabad High Court has reserved its decision in the matter. We are waiting for the decision and will follow court directives,` he added.