The government has warned primary school teachers that they would face strict punishments if they do not end their work abstention programme and return to duties amid the students’ final exams.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education issued a press release in this regard on Wednesday.

The release cited three separate laws and regulations that would be used to penalise the protesting teachers including the Code of Criminal Procedure, and Public Service Act.

The release referred to multiple inter-ministerial and government consultations held to discuss the teachers’ demands.

The demands are upgrade to 11th grade from 13th grade on the national pay scale, removal of obstructions on promotion to higher grade after completion of 10 years and 16 years in service, and hundred percent quota for the teachers to get promoted to school headmasters.

Despite the consultation meetings and relevant letter issuance, the teachers have continued protesting. In some cases, they have also hindered exam taking and physically attacked law-abiding teachers from attending to school children at exam halls, the release noted.

In light of these activities, the protesters are liable to face criminal proceedings.