Teachers get waiver from medical checkup fee in Khost

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Doctors Union (DU) in southeastern Khost province have announced a waiver from checkup fee for teachers.

Officials of the provincial DU say that their effort is to provide teachers with free medicines in addition to covering their examination fees.

Dr. Abdul Hakim Zadran, head of the DU, told Pajhwok Afghan News this decision being implemented in the center and all districts was made to solve the economic problems of teachers and to admire their services.

He thanked teachers and said: “Due to the efforts of these teachers we have reached this point where today we are doctors and run clinics, we decided not to charge medical fee on them due to the deteriorating economic situation and the low salaries of our teachers.”

On the other hand, teachers in the province welcome the doctors' move and termed the decision is a material and moral support.

Ihsanullah, one of the teachers, said: “The important thing is that if a teacher lives in society and sacrifices himself to brighten the lives of others, then citizens should also try their best to interact well with them.”

Meanwhile, some other teachers say that their benefits were low, and therefore many teachers do other heavy physical work to meet family needs.

Naeem Darez, one of the teachers, said that low salaries of teachers left negative impact on education process and asked the IEA to increase the salaries of teachers.

He said: “Teachers' current salaries cannot meet their basic needs. If these needs were met, teachers would have more time for teaching and would be able to play a better role in the development of the education system.”

Other residents of Khost also applaud the doctors' move, saying that it will encourage other unions and trade unions to make decisions in support of teachers.

Naqibullah Zaland, a social media activist, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “We, all of us, call on government officials, those at the top of the government posts, to take this step not only in Khost, but throughout Afghanistan, to increase the value of teachers in society.”

According to the DU, currently 400 clinics operated in Khost province, none of these clinics would charge teachers for the medical fee.

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