Teachers stage protest against discriminatory policies

ISLAMABAD: – A significant number of teachers gathered outside the headquarters of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Tuesday to voice their discontent against what they perceive as “discriminatory” and “exploitative” policies of the commission.

The protest, organized by the All Public Universities BPS Teachers Association (APUBTA), was accompanied by a sit-in, indicating their unwavering commitment to the cause until their demands are met.

The primary demand of APUBTA is the issuance of a notification for the approval of a service structure and promotion policy designed for all BPS teachers in public sector universities. This demand echoes a written commitment previously made by the HEC.

During the demonstration, teachers expressed their frustration at the lack of promotions over the last two decades, a grievance that has long gone unaddressed. They made it clear that they would persist in their protest until their demands are fulfilled.

The protest and ensuing sit-in are driven by the belief that the HEC’s policies have been discriminatory and exploitative. Additionally, they seek a resolution to the delays in approving the promotion policy for BPS teachers in public universities.

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However, in response to the protest, Vice-chancellors (VCs) from several universities have cautioned faculty members to refrain from participating in the planned teachers’ sit-in. Reports indicate that the heads of various institutions, including the International Islamic University Islamabad, Government College Women University, Faisalabad, Hazara University, Mansehra, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, Rawalpindi Women University, and Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, have instructed faculty members to abstain from joining the protest and ensure their attendance at their respective universities.