The government of Sindh is likely to regularise the services of around 4,000 contractual school teachers before the start of the next educational session. The Education Department sources said that a criterion would be formulated and the teachers, fulfilling it, would be regularised. A test might be conducted to assess their abilities, besides positive results produced by the contractual teachers would also be considered for regularisation of their services, said the sources.

Despite opposition by the Finance Department due to some of its reservations, a summary for regularisation of contractual teachers had been sent to Chief Minister for approval, they said. The Education Department sources expressed the hope that the summary would be approved.

These 4,000 teachers were appointed as junior school teachers (JST) and high school teachers (HST) in 2001 and their contract was expired in November 2004. However, they continued to serve without any further orders and extension in their service period till February 16.

During the period from November 2004 to February, these contractual teachers started a campaign, including demos, token hunger strike throughout the province, seeking regularisation of their jobs or extension in the contracts.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister had granted an extension of six months in their contracts after meeting with a delegation of contractual teachers two days earlier.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005