Protesting Paktia teachers demand pay raise

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Protesting teachers from Gardez, the capital of south-eastern Paktia province, were joined by their colleagues from Ahmadabad district on Wednesday in their demand for increment.

The protesting teachers warned of boycotting classes if practical steps were not taken for a raise in their pay.

They complained pledges made with them during the last presidential elections and on occasions of Teacher’s Day about increase in their salary remained unimplemented, vowing that they would no more trust future promises.

AzizurrahmanAnis, the Ahmadabad Central High School principal, said teachers could not meet their basic needs with the current salaries.

He said economic issues and inadequate salaries had rendered teachers unable to concentrate on their job.

Another teacher, Ismael, said the law did not permit any discrimination against teachers but their salary was incomparable with employees of other government departments.

“A 6^th grade officer of the Ministry of Finance is paid 16,000afs salary without part time work and teachers who fall in 6^th grade receive 6,000afs salary.”

Governor Haleem Fedae said teachers’ complaints regarding their salary was appropriate, adding that the authority regarding teacher’s salary rested with the central government but said he was hopeful about a positive development in this regard.

“The issue of plots’ distribution is linked with the whole process as plot distribution is banned in the country and we are waiting for the president and the Cabinet to decide in this regard,” he said

nh/ma

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