Founding Convention, Held at Islamabad 1st Day on 14th December, 2007

MR. GREG. SCHULZE
Country Director ACILS Islamabad.

Dear Sir,
Founding convention of TCOP was held at Islamabad in the Premises (Hall) of Hotel Capital on 14th – 15th December 2007.

About 57 Teachers’ Leaders of thirty Six TCOP affiliated teachers’ Associations took part in the event as general councilors. The leaders of the rest associations were stayed away due to engaged in election duty and being busy in examination work of SSC and Local Schools’ exams. But they were allowed proxy votes through their provincial leaders participating in the convention, we invited ILO, FES, ICOS, PWF, ICFTU and other NGOs officials, but due to prior engagement, they could not attend our function;

Mr. Immad Ashraf Program Officer ACILS Islamabad on first day and Mr. DAVE KAMERERE, Senior Associate International Affairs Dept. AFT, Mrs. Charito Riley, Senior Program Officer Asia Europe Region ACILS were present in both the days’ proceedings of the convention. The very first day M. Iqbal Shuja Convener TCOP accorded worm welcome to these dignitories and councilors of general council and expressed his heartiest thank for joining the event so far.

On the opening day of convention Mr. Immad Ashraf Program Officer ACILS, Islamabad expressed his views on the working of ACILS internationally and in regard to teachers’ solidarity and uniting fragmented teachers’ Association of Pakistan under the Banner of TCOP. He further pointed out that the task uniting teachers associations of Pakistan had been successfully completed under the guidance, support and supervision of ACILS Islamabad, hoping that onward TCOP would stand on its own feet and would continue its activities democratically and depending at its own financial resources or depending on membership dues and others constitutional means. Even the ACILS would continue some sort of help in regard to organizational matters and further strengthening TCOP at the grass root level:

The next speaker at the first day was Dave Kammerere, who threw light on the role of AFT in supporting ACILS for uniting teachers’ association in Pakistan and quoted some experiences gained in the struggle for bringing the teachers and other education related organizations on the common platform provided by American Teachers Federation in America. He emphasized on the role of Pakistan’s Teachers’ leaders to promote democracy and follow democratic norms in their administrative and organizational setup or activities, workings and managerial proceedings or procedures in all respects. He advised them to remain more vigilant on the issue and problems of the teaching professionals and get their grievances and core issues settled down amicably, so that they could be attracted for being avail the chances to enhance more and more membership of their respective associations.

On proceeding to next item of the Agenda, the chairman of credential committee Mr. Choudhri Muhammad Nawaz issued Credentials to participant units (Associations entitling them right of votes accordingly in the ensuing elections of executive boards. After that the convener of TCOP. Placed the amendments in TCOP constitution’s Article 8 and Article 8(c) to add one post of Chief Organizer and ten Ex-Officio executive members by virtue of posts holding in Pakistan women teachers’ council in national and provincial boards, as presidents and general secretaries, which were passed and adopted by the general councilors, chairperson, Electron Committee Miss. Rukhsana announced the procedure of election as par Article 8 of TCOP constitution and distributed the nomination forms unilateral and panel wise among the contestants. At the very first step the elections of office bearers of provincials executive boards were held in a separate meeting of each provincially affiliated associations (the provincial unites) so far elected the office bearers of provincial executive boards of their respective provinces and handed over the results to the chairperson of election committee Ms. Rukhsana Perveen, then the elections of office bearers of central executive board were held and the house of general councilors unanimously elected the Boards’ officials. Later on the final results of provincial and central executive boards were announced  by the chairperson Ms. Rukhsana Perveen after compiling it according to the TCOP consultation. (Results attached herewith). After that the elected office bearers expressed their thanks to the members of convening committee, election committee and electoral college (general council) and resolved to work sincerely for promoting education and up-gradation of teachers’ status by all means and committed to take pride in keeping teachers’ interest supreme in all their efforts and endeavours.

A National Meeting of Teachers’ leaders of TCOP affiliated Associations held on 12-03-2007 at Faisalabad (A third big city known as Manchester of Pakistan) in the Premises of Sheheryar Hotel.

Two office-bearers from each Main TCOP Affiliated Associations were invited to attend the meeting.

Due to engagement in S.S.C. Examination Watan Teachers’ Association officials Stayed away from attending the meeting, but Two Lady Teachers from Pakistan Women Teachers’ Council Balochistan (An Affiliate of TCOP) did participate in the proceeding of the meeting. The rest invitees ardently attended the session and made it a successful one

MR. GREG SCHULZE
Program country Director ACILS Pakistan Center
MR. IMMAD ASHRAF
Program Officer ACILS Islamabad Center;

Even very bussy, but they graced this occasion with their eminent presence and observed the whole proceeding patiently and attentively till the last moment.

According to meeting’s Agenda the proceeding was started with the recitation of Holly Quran and after that Mr. Choudhri Muhammad Nawaz, Co-convener TCOP welcoming the guests and participants read out the Agenda in detail before the attenders of the meeting and described the significance of the attached papers with files so provided to participants.

M. Iqbal Shuja, Convener TCOP delivered Key-not address, and said “Teachers’ have Lots of problems on the ground, Top of them are imposition of Ban on Teachers’ Association by Sindh Govt., Employment of Junior grade Retired Military men in inspection teams in Punjab province for monitoring the teaching work and staff activities, the alarming situation of Political Interference in education Dept., and also extremism and fanaticism Preachings prevailing in educational institution these  days”.

Further he added that “It is a burning need of the hour to face these challenges with collective efforts. Although the TCOP Affiliated Associations have been struggling hard to sort out the solution of these problems and issues, yet we have to do more in this regard. It is no figure of speech to say that the multifarious problems are hanging like sword of democle on the heads of our Teachers, so we have to save our heads with sincere, conscious and deliberate efforts jointly or collectively to bring the significant and positive results of our struggle”. He said that TCOP convening committee also did a lot in this regard. It had hosted many press conferences in the capital cities of all provinces, issued press releases; wrote Articles on the burning issues, contacted lawyers, notables of the city, political leaders, PWF and WEBCOB officials, city Nazim to seek their support for pressurizing the Govt. to get settled down the thorny issues amicably. Letters were also written to President, Prime Minister of Pakistan. ILO, EI and Human Rights Commission for reversal of Ban.

Having finished his address M. Iqbal Shuja, Convener TCOP invited Mr. Hafiz Abdul Nasir, President Punjab Senior Teaching Staff Association to express his views on deployment of Retired Lower Grade Military Men in Education Dept. for Monitoring the Schools Management and Teaching Staff.  Mr. Hafiz Abdul Nasir expressed his grave concern over the employment of Lower Grade Military Man for monitoring Schools’ Staff having higher grades than these monitors.

In his speech he said "this step taken by Punjab Govt. Humiliating and insulting on the part of teachers’ comity, as undue indulgence, interference and rash behaviour with Staff is severely effecting teaching process. He told that frusted teachers checked by Military Men cannot perform their duty efficiently; when they are under pressure and threats”. He demanded immediate abolishment of monitoring teams and suggested that if monitoring is necessary the same may be constituted from Retired Officers and Teachers, as they can best perform monitoring work then unrelated educational persons.
           
Further he added that “some Govt. Schools have been handed over to NGOs, and they are drawing more salaries than Govt. Teachers’. Thus this extra financial amount is a heavy Burdon on Govt. treasury. So the given schools be taken back and let them function under Govt. control to save extra Financial Burdon”.
           
The next speaker was Mr. Ghulam Rasool Rajpur, President Bhittai Teachers’ Association Sindh (Rdg). He threw light on the imposition of ban on Teachers’ Associations by the Sindh Govt. and explained it’s background and surprising chain of events.
           
He said that this ban was imposed due to the facts that Teachers Associations were raising voices and objections on illegal decisions and actions in regard to appointments, promotions, postings, transfer, and corruption or illegal gratification prevailing in offices and to hide illegal actions of officers of Sindh Govt., imposition of ban on Teachers’ Association was just to shut their months and curb the voices against them.
           
He termed ban as violation of teachers’ Right to form Union. Banning Teachers Associations’ was absolutely illegal and in contradiction of ILO Convention 98, 87, constitution of Pakistan. Article 17, 19 and Universal Declaration of Human rights as well. He elaborated his point of view and further expressed his feeling, saying that Teachers of Sindh reacted against the illegal ban and staged a sit-in at Karachi Press Club and thousands and thousands teachers took procession on the main roads. Police resorted to teargas, shelling and baton charge to disperse the protestors and to suppress the popular movement. Many Male and Female Teachers sustained severe injuries and some of them were hospitalized for medical treatment.
           
Manhandling of Teachers by police, booking them on force leave, issuance of showcase notices and sacking were the tactics of administration to suppress the move against Sindh Govt.
           
About 132 TOP leaders were arrested and 1400 Teachers were suspended on the charge of taking part in strike. At least 20 Teachers’ Leaders were dismissed from Service without showcase notice and inquiry only Govt. took strong measurers to put a stop to teachers movement for restoration of Association. Sindh Professors & Lecturers Association (SPLA) and Govt. Secondary Schools Teachers’ Association (GSTA) leaders were the prime movers of the strike and demonstration, they were sacked, who letter on filed a case in the high court challenging the Govt. action and won the case, but Sindh Govt. again filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against High Court verdict. Now the teachers are waiting for Supreme Court decision.
           
As far as the teachers are concerned they will continue their struggle and will not let the flame flicker or die out inspite of unholy winds.
           
MR. ZAFER AHMED SATTI.
President Punjab Teachers’ Union,                
MR. MUZAMMIL KHAN TURNABI,
President All Teachers’ Association NWFP,
MR. HAFIZ ABDUL NASIR,
President Senior Teaching Staff Punjab,                    
MR. S. MUSHTAQ HUSSAIN SHAH,
President Senior Teaching Staff NWFP,            
MR. GHULAM NABI,
President Punjab Municipal Schools Teachers’ Association,
MISS. RUKHSANA,
Provincial President Pakistan Women Teachers Council, NWFP,
Miss. ASMA,
Provincial President, Pakistan Women Teacher Council Balochistan,
MR. MALIK MOHD. SARWAR,
Secretary Punjab Municipal Schools Teachers Association,
MR. JALEEL AFRIDI,
President All Teachers Association FATA,

expressed their solidarity with teachers of Sindh Province and announced full backing to the struggle of Sindh Teachers.

A Resolution was unanimously passed by the participants condemning the banning-order and therein they all demanded for immediate reversal or withdrawal of banning order.

They appreciated TCOP Convening Committee’s role in struggling and supporting to Sindh Teachers’ cause nationally and internationally.

Mr. Greg Schulze took the floor of the meeting and appreciated the convener for holding meeting a successful one and filled with pleasure to see that Iqbal Shuja’s labour in Organizing Teachers’ Associations was now a full-flanged and deep rooted tree ripped up with sweet fruits, “but still we have to do more”. He told the Teachers Leaders that “for maintaining legal status and smooth running of an Association or Federation sound financial position or base is very important and necessary, otherwise it would rather very difficult to run an Association / Federation efficiently and would fail to get aims and objectives achieved to the entire satisfaction of the members”.

He gave a task to participants by dividing them into four groups and gave them a specimen paper containing “Heads of expenditures”, to prepare budget for their own Association and Federation (TCOP).

Group leaders, presented their budget proposals and later on after gone through the reports, it was decided that each Association should realize two rupees per month from it’s each member and out of twenty four rupees at least twelve rupees per year per member should go to Federation i.e. TCOP.

Mr. Immad Ashraf did facilitate the participant to understand Greg Schulze thoughts and expressions by translating them into Urdu language. 

The First session was over at 4:30 pm and the remaining Agenda was put off till next day.