AGEGA Leads Protests Against School Privatization

The All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA), along with teacher organizations and the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), has declared a series of protests opposing the proposed privatization of 13,000 government schools to NGOs. The alliance is demanding the safeguarding of public schools and national institutions from privatization, the removal of leave encashment laws, and a 200% increase in pay and benefits.

The protests are set to commence with a sit-in and siege of the Punjab Assembly on May 29, followed by a long march and sit-in outside the Parliament House in Islamabad on June 6. The leaders of the alliance stress the importance of tangible actions over mere assurances and express discontent with interim salary adjustments.

AGEGA is also against the transfer of national institutions to foreign entities and opposes the elimination of 70,000 Class IV posts. The alliance plans to escalate their protests through daily demonstrations, strikes, and rallies in major cities leading up to the budget session, underscoring their commitment to peaceful demonstrations.

Emphasizing that their movement is apolitical and solely focused on salary increments, pension revisions, and job stability, the alliance criticizes the government's contemplation of school privatization. They caution against potential repercussions such as increased fees and a surge in out-of-school children.

Caravans from various cities will converge on the Punjab Assembly for the protest sit-in, spearheaded by members of the Joint Action Committee. The committee expresses disillusionment over unfulfilled government pledges concerning privatization and leave encashment laws, citing concerns about the probable impact on education and land utilization.

The AGEGA's stance against the privatization of government schools reflects a broader concern for the preservation of public education and job security. Their planned protests signal a unified front in advocating for the rights and welfare of government employees, emphasizing the need for sustainable policies that prioritize the well-being of the workforce and the educational system.