It is no denying the fact that teachers union is an instrumental tool to stand by Teachers in genuine and legal matters in ample countries around the world globally. Japan Teachers’ Union is the largest education union, the voice of teachers and other education professionals. Singapore is not excluded. The Singapore Teachers’ Union (STU) is the largest teachers’ organization. It has been around since 1946. Many decades have passed since then but their spirit and vigor to protect the interests of all teaching staff never fade away. In the USA, There are two main national teachers’ unions: the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Pakistan is also one of these countries where such unions exist. The Four Provinces of the country have teachers’ unions in school as well as in college Education. It includes Punjab, Baluchistan, KPK, and Sindh as well. In Sindh Province, It is glad to learn that, the Teachers Union especially in School Education has been recognized as the only platform to voice generous issues of the teaching staff at the top administrative level. However, it is no less than a vibrating tool for their vocal cords.
In addition to it, It is quite disheartening to apprise that such teachers’ unions have become only a daydream for Teachers. Union’s role seems to be more pessimistic. It works for their personal gains only even by sacrificing the due rights of a large number of teachers. Last but not least, the teacher’s unions, being a welfare group, compel them for giving bribes in order to act in their favor regarding administrative matters such as Promotions, service books maintenance, ACRs, and leave approvals. Instead of offering welfare services, they indulge in bribery by facilitating the administration. Teacher Union is a stumbling block for teachers in their routine matters; all the administrative matters of Teachers withhold unless members of the union poke their noses into them.
Woefully, such a teacher union, the only representative of Teachers working in the Government sector, rose with new recognition “Political Union”. History witnessed that it was founded to fight for teacher’s right and their welfare. Nowadays, it remains no more than a mare dream for victimized teachers. Such Teacher’s Unions are safe havens for absentees and latecomers among teaching staff. Mostly, the members of Unions are poorly qualified and untrained.
It is quite unfortunate says that the memberships or selection procedure of the Schools teachers union in Sindh is totally biased. The Electoral or voting system, the only reliable way, is widely ignored. The members of the Union are selected from among seniors who are influential.
To sum up, it is high time the existing teacher’s unions of schools in Sindh revive their manifesto and act in full swing by demonstrating their zeal and zest in the affairs of teachers. There should be a mutual understanding among members and cooperation with teachers. Moreover, The Selection of such members must be without political or personal gains. It is the need of the hour that they work in tendon with teachers for better performance and development of the whole education system. Without good education and effective teachers, there is no progress in any of the key areas for societal development, from science to art and technology. The position of teachers is the most delicate in that sense. They have direct responsibility and influence on what their students will become in the future. So, it is time for the teachers union to win their hearts by nominating the newly appointed and highly qualified teachers, who are young blood, for rendering such welfare services. In addition to it, it is the right time for the existing Teachers Union to demonstrate its positive gestures and stand by teachers during thick and thin in education matters.
