Retired professors have urged Sindh government to impose education emergency in the province to improve the educational system, adding that retired professors would extend all-out support to the government in this regard.
Addressing a news conference, organised by Sindh Retired Professors' Association (SRPA) at DJ Science College, Convenor SRPA Professor Saeed-ul-Zafar Khan urged the government to impose unified educational system in the province where the children of the poor and rich can get education without any discrimination. He was flanked by Professors Ilyas Mohammad Soomro, Syed Tahir Ali Jafri, Sirajuddin Qazi and Sarfraz Ali Khan.
"Politicians and high officials of civil and military bureaucracy should be asked to get enrolled their children in public sector institutions in order to end the discriminatory educational system," Professor Saeed said, adding that external and political influence in public sector institutions should be ended.
He asked the government to bring transparency in the examination system in order to discourage the Entry Test System. "Preparation for the entry test has turned into biggest business opportunity in the province that needed to be discouraged," he added. Professor Saeed advised the government to allocate seven percent budget for education sector.
Sharing the problems of the retired professors, professor Saeed asked Sindh government to restore the benefit of restoration of commuted portion of pension in lieu of pension/gratuity as similar facility is being provided to retired employees of other government departments. He also demanded of the government to restore benefit of increase in pension on gross pension. "The scheme of advance increments on having higher qualification was discontinued. In this way the employees who got higher qualification than the required education for the same post suffered financial loss after 2001 and they have still been waiting for the restoration of the scheme of advance increments," he informed.
He called for announcement of special financial package for the pensioners in budget 2014-2014 under which pensioners should be given 70 percent discount in train, bus and air travelling fares besides 100pc increase in the pensions. He requested the government to pay the group insurance payments to the professors before their retirement day.
Professor Saeed further asked the government to establish Professors Club for retired professors in order to provide recreational facilities to them. He also asked federal government to provide subsidy in Hajj expenses to entertain them in performing mandatory religious obligation - Hajj.