PESHAWAR: Teachers of government colleges across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province partially boycotted classes on April 25 to protest the alleged harassment of educators by the district administrations in several cities during the ongoing matriculation examination.
The provincial government has allowed the officers of the district administrations to visit examination centres during the matriculation exam for inspection to check cheating.
President of All Government Colleges’ Teachers Association Hameed Afridi told Dawn that the deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners had ‘harassed’ educators and administration of several colleges during inspection of examination halls.
“The teacher harassment by bureaucrats is intolerable as teachers are making all efforts to prevent exam cheating,” he said.
Complain of ‘harassment’ by district admins during ongoing matriculation examination
An incident of such harassment was reported on Thursday at the Government Superior Science Degree College Peshawar as 10th graders from private schools were solving papers.
Mr Afridi said that the deputy commissioner of Peshawar came to the college and asked his security personnel to stop the entry of anyone to the premises and went straight to the examination halls.
“In the meanwhile, the college’s own students from BS classes showed up and wanted to go to their classes. However, the security personnel stopped them at the gate as per directives of their boss. One of them even slapped a student, while a scuffle happened between students and police after heated exchanges,” he said.
The association leader said that the laptop and mobile phone of a student were also damaged in the event. Other college students also gathered on the premises and shouted at the DC and his guards.
Sources told Dawn that when the student protest went “out of control,” senior faculty members came to the DC’s rescue at the principal’s office.
The students also smashed doors, windows and chairs. The DC later apologised to the students and promised that the student, whose mobile and laptop was damaged, would be compensated.
Deputy commissioner Sarmad Saleem Akram was not available for comments.
Mr Afridi said that a few days ago, such an incident was reported at the Government Degree College, Domail, Bannu, where an assistant commissioner misbehaved with college teachers and students.
In a video message, he said that it was the responsibility of invigilators to stop cheating inside examination halls, so DCs and ACs should focus on the prevention of cheating materials outside exam centres.
“Our teachers will continue supporting the government in its efforts for eliminating the use of unfair means in the upcoming intermediate examinations slated to start on May 7. However, officers of the district administration should be careful about the dignity of faculty members during their visit to the educational institutions,” he said.
The provincial elementary and secondary education department notified on April 9 that the officials of the district administration deputed for visiting examination centres to avoid carrying weapons or personnel guards within the premises of schools and examination centers.
“I am directed to refer to the subject and to state that a part of ongoing efforts to ensure safe, secure and fearless environment to students within the examination hall during SSC annual examination 2025, it has been decided that officers deputed to visit examination centres may strictly be conveyed that carrying weapons or personal guards and gunners within the premises of school and examination halls in strictly prohibited,” said a letter issued by an official of the education department.
The letter was issued at the start of matriculation examination.
Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2025
