PESHAWAR – The Directorate of Elementary and Secondary Education Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has rejected the appeal to grant seniority to 35,000 teachers from their initial appointment date.
A four-member committee, led by the Additional Director, found the All Teachers Association’s demands “liable to be rejected.” The committee cited legal constraints and potential administrative disruptions.
The issue involves around 35,000 teachers recruited on an ad-hoc basis between 2014 and 2018 through NTS and FTS. Although the Regularization Act 2018 made them permanent, the department placed them junior to existing permanent staff and those promoted during that period.
Meanwhile, the All Teachers Association petitioned to amend Section 4 of the Regularization Act 2017. They requested that seniority be backdated to the teachers’ first day of induction.
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Key Findings of the Committee
During a meeting on December 23, 2025, the committee outlined several reasons for rejecting the appeal:
- Legal Precedent: Section 4(1) of the Regularization Act 2017 considers regularized employees junior to existing permanent staff in the same cadre. This rule aligns with KP Service Acts of 1987 and 1988. Changing it could create serious legal complications.
- Administrative Stability: Thousands of teachers already hold senior positions. Therefore, granting backdated seniority would disrupt the current administrative structure.
- Financial Burden: Backdating seniority would trigger claims for financial arrears. As a result, it could place a heavy burden on the provincial treasury.
- Litigation Risks: The committee warned that approving the demand could lead to endless litigation within the department.
Finally, the report has been sent to the Section Officer (Primary) of the Education Department for further policy decisions and formal action. For now, the 35,000 teachers remain junior to the permanent cadre in place at the time of their regularization.
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