LAHORE: Heads of government schools of the Punjab have urged the government to fulfil their demands. The Headmasters Association Punjab asked the Punjab government and School Education Department (SED) to resolve issues and problems being faced by them, including overcoming the shortage of school staff. They also threatened to hold protests if their demands were not fulfilled. Talking to Daily Times on Sunday, association president Rasheed Ahmad Bhatti said that they fully appreciate the decision of SED to upgrade and promote teachers belonging to grade 16. “However, SED has failed to meet the demands of teachers and headmasters who belong to grade 17 and above,” he said. He added that SED had a lot to do for the welfare of the teaching community. “We have presented our demands to SED officials. We are facing several issues. However, they have not resolved them,” he said, adding that no serious action was taken by secretary or any other official. Bhatti said that their demands included permanent jobs from beginning for all teachers, filling vacant seats in schools by promoting junior teachers, review of the Chief Minister Road Map, early issuance of non-salaried budget, ending of inquiries initiated under PEEDA Act against principals, filling of teaching, non-teaching staff at schools, making school heads independent in running the affairs of schools, ending of non-academic duties of teachers, inclusion of teachers in making education policies, rules and laws. When asked about previously held protests, he said that teachers had held several protests from various platforms, including different groups of Punjab Teachers Union. “However, principals have not yet held any such protest. We plan to protest outside Civil Secretariat if our demands are not met. We will have no other option but to come out on the streets,” he added. “These demands are being made for last four five years, but no positive response has been received from the government yet,” he said, adding that instead action was being taken against headmasters. Published in Daily Times, January 22nd 2018.