Tanzeem Asatiza Pakistan (TUP), Sindh, has expressed concern over interference of non-government organisations (NGOs), especially foreign-funded ones, in education sector of Pakistan, and urged the government to chalk out home-grown policies for this vital sector according to the aspiration of the nation and the country.
Addressing a meeting here, Sindh TUP President, Professor Dr Muhammad Ishaq, called upon the Sindh Governor to take notice of situation, which was resulting in selling off of schools. Referring to the government's willingness to spend four percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) on education, he said the government should raise the allocation to 10 percent to put the country on track of progress.
To highlight the grave threats faced by Pakistani education sector, Dr Ishaq said a Sindh teachers convention would be held here on June 18-19 to pinpoint the obstacles in the development of education sector and their possible solutions.
He said that representatives of teachers would discuss important issues in detail faced by education sector, including issues related to syllabus, academic session and growing interference of NGOs in education policies. The teachers' convention would be attended by teachers from Hyderabad, Karachi, Tando Adam, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Jacobabad and others areas, he said.
He demanded permanent status to teachers on ad hoc basis, 25 percent surge in government employees' salary instead of 15 percent, ensuring payment of teaching allowance as pledged by the government and substantial rise in medical and conveyance allowances.