The humiliation of teachers

There is no exaggeration in saying that teachers play a key and fundamental role in building any society. It is they who lift children from the abyss of ignorance to the beacon of light, and who educate and shape them into conscious and responsible citizens. Regrettably, when these same teachers raise their legitimate voices for their due rights, the resolution of their long-standing issues and the acceptance of their demands, the incumbent government, instead of heeding their genuine grievances, makes every possible effort to silence them through brute force, baton charges and tear gas shells. The question arises: is protesting peacefully for one’s rights a crime? Do teachers not have the right to present their charter of demands before the government and the relevant authorities? What compelled them to come out onto the streets of Karachi and stage a sit-in in front of the Karachi Press Club?

The police brutality, tear gas shelling and water cannons used against teachers protesting in front of the Karachi Press Club on November 4 stand as a major question mark over the Sindh government’s democratic claims. After all, what is the teacher’s crime? Is demanding a proper service structure, promotion rights and the resolution of their issues an offence? What kind of governance subjects teachers, who have spent years in schools shaping our children’s future, to violence simply for demanding their rights? The government must understand that a teacher is not a criminal to be dealt with by force instead of dialogue. Rulers who claim to improve education must first ensure the respect and economic security of teachers. Resorting to force rather than dialogue will only complicate matters further. The Sindh government is therefore urged to resolve the teachers’ legitimate charter of demands, including their service structure, without delay, so that they may finally heave a sigh of relief.