SAP teachers’ strike continues in Gilgit, no solution in sight
Gilgit, May 7: For the last three days teachers hired under the Social Action Programme (SAP) initiative have been protesting in front of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, many including many women and their children.
The teachers are demanding of the government to raise their salaries and regularize their services, as promised in the past.
The protesters today blocked the main entrance of the GBLA and stopped the legislators from moving out. Later, a groups of legislators, led by Haji Fida Muhammad Nashad, came out to the negotiation with the teachers. Afterwards, a five-member executive committee was formed to negotiate with the government.
The negotiations have been going on for the last 2 hours, while hundreds of teachers are preparing to camp outside the GBLA for the nights. Tents and other material are being brought outside the GBLA building as preparation for the sit-in.
The protesting SAP teachers were addressed by Maulana Sultan Raees and Sheikh Bilal Sumayari who have assured them of full support.
The SAP schools were started during the early 90s to boost literacy in the country. A total of 540 SAP schools are providing education to over 50, 000 students in all the seven districts of Gilgit – Baltistan. Over 1100 teachers work at these schools. The teachers and students had been victim of ad-hoc policies of the government towards SAP schools.
With reporting by Farman Karim
