The All Primary Teachers Association (APTA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced a sit-in on November 5 in Peshawar, along with a complete strike of all primary schools if their demands are not met by October 30. Primary teachers held a protest in front of Peshawar Press Club, with a large number of female teachers participating.
The protest was led by APTA’s provincial president, Azizullah Khan, and other office-bearers. Protesters carried placards and banners inscribed with their demands. Addressing the gathering, Azizullah Khan said that APTA has always preferred dialogue, but despite continuous efforts and meetings with government members and leaders of various political parties over the past year, no action has been taken on the unanimous approval of primary teachers’ upgradation by the provincial cabinet on January 17, 2023.
He emphasized that the upgradation was legally and constitutionally enforced from July 1, 2023, but the Finance Department has been blocking this right by misleading the government with exaggerated cost estimates. He further accused the government of halting the upgradation process in violation of their own party’s education manifesto. Azizullah stressed that the teachers are not afraid and have previously held a historic five-day sit-in.He demanded immediate implementation of the primary teachers’ upgradation, class-wise teacher appointments in primary schools, reduction in the burden of books on students, restoration of the “Forgo” option in promotions, prevention of primary school privatization, and the issuance of SPS posts in the merged districts.
Additionally, he called for the enforcement of the GP Fund under the Permanency Act 2022 and the regularization of teachers left out of the act, along with legislation to ensure intra-district teacher transfers remain within the existing districts.APTA warned that if the demands are not met by October 30, over 100,000 primary teachers across the province will hold a sit-in in Peshawar on November 5, and 26,000 primary schools will be completely locked down.
Meanwhile, primary teachers in Malakand also locked schools and protested for their demands, threatening to shut down government schools indefinitely if their demands are not accepted. The protest, held in front of the Malakand Press Club in Batkhela, was led by district president Dr. Salman Ali, General Secretary Shahid Ahmed, and other local leaders.In Lower Chitral, a protest rally in support of the demands was also held, concluding at High School Road.
Leaders of the association, including district president Zia-ur-Rehman and General Secretary Zahid Alam, addressed the protesters, alongside the president of the All Government Employees Association, Ameer-ul-Mulk.
