PESHAWAR
Conflicting policies of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department have triggered a serious controversy over teachers’ seniority, prompting strong reactions from teachers’ associations and legislative intervention by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
PPP Member of the Provincial Assembly Ahmed Karim Kundi has submitted a calling attention notice in the provincial assembly, drawing attention to what he termed as discriminatory and unjust treatment of teachers recruited between 2014 and 2018.
Under a law enforced for teachers recruited during the 2014–2018 period, seniority is not counted from the date of appointment. In contrast, teachers of the same cadre recruited after 2018 are granted seniority from their first day of service. As a result of this dual standard, earlier-appointed teachers are being declared junior to those recruited later, despite holding the same positions and performing identical duties.
Education circles warn that the policy could severely disrupt the entire promotion system, as junior teachers may be promoted over seniors solely due to differing seniority rules. Teachers’ representatives argue that applying separate criteria to the same cadre violates merit and constitutes a clear injustice.
In his assembly submission, Ahmed Karim Kundi called for immediate corrective measures, urging the government to abolish contradictory laws and introduce a uniform seniority policy applicable to all teachers without discrimination.
Affected teachers have also appealed to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi, the provincial education minister, secretary education, director education, and other senior officials to take urgent notice of the issue, eliminate conflicting regulations, and address the growing concerns within the teaching community.
