Strike shuts down Logar teacher training centre

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): Hundreds of students, teachers and workers at the main Teacher Training Centre in central Logar province have gone on strike against the centre director.

The strike involving 30 teachers, workers and about 200 students would continue until the training centre head, Mohammad Ayub Sherzad, was removed from his position, said Mohammad Akram Ahmadi, one of the protesting teachers.

He accused Sherzad of his involvement in corruption and demanded his removal and introduction to the prosecutor’s office.

“Sherzad is involved in corruption. He has been mistreating teachers and students and has embezzled funds meant for buying food for students and constructing the centre’s boundary wall,” the teacher alleged.

He said teachers had sent a formal letter to the Education Ministry complaining against Sherzad, but he could not be removed due to his strong connections.

Another teacher, Noor Rahman Ahmadzai, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Sherzad should be sacked and referred to the attorney’s office as soon as possible. He said they would continue their strike until their demand was met.

“Relations between the centre head and teachers have been uneasy for the last eight months and it has badly affected our studies,” said student Habibullah. He urged the authorities concerned to resolve the issue at the earliest.

Logar Education Department spokesman Mohammad Shahpur Arab told Pajhwok Afghan News teachers’ complaints against the Teacher Training Centre head had been shared with the authorities concerned. He said a commission had been formed to investigate the matter.

But Sherzad rejected all allegations leveled against him by the teachers. “I have never committed any corruption,” he said.

He said the protesting teachers wanted to be independent in their activities and thus looking for excuses to get him removed.

Established eight years ago, the Teacher Training Centre has branches in five districts. More than 1100 male and 400 female students have been studying in the centre.

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