PESHAWAR
Community school teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have raised serious concerns over the non-payment of their salaries for the past six months and warned of launching a protest movement if they are not paid by November 5.
The community schools in the province are run under the Elementary and Secondary Education Foundation (ESEF). Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Faryal, the president of the Girls Community Schools, highlighted the financial strain teachers are facing due to unpaid salaries, alongside outstanding payments for school rent, electricity bills, and maintenance costs.
Faryal noted that many teachers, who come from low-income families, have been forced to take out loans to cover both personal and school-related expenses. “The situation has left their households struggling to afford basic necessities,” she added.
“For the past six months, these educators have continued teaching, despite not receiving their salaries, and have been using their own resources to keep school facilities running,” she lamented.
Despite repeated appeals to the government for timely disbursement of their dues, no progress has been made. In response, the teachers have been protesting online for the past 15 days, seeking the government’s attention to their plight.
If the government fails to release the pending salaries by the November 5 deadline, the teachers have vowed to initiate a province-wide strike, which could lead to the indefinite closure of schools. This would impact the education of millions of children, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, Faryal warned.
She stressed that the government and top officials of the ESEF would bear full responsibility for the looming educational crisis. “Teachers, who are committed to building a better future for the region’s children, should not be left struggling for their own survival.”
Faryal added that the stability of the community education system now hangs in the balance, and swift government action is critical to avoid a complete shutdown.
