Labour Education Foundation
Adult Literacy Development Program
Activity Report
July 2006
Reported by
Ulfat Bukhari
Coordinator,
Dated; August 04, 2006
Labour Education Foundation
Sufi Mansion, 7-Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan. Tel: 0092 42 6303808, Fax: 0092 42 6271149
E-mail:
Table of Contents
Monthly Study Circle Leaders’ meeting
Topics of Study Circle
Meetings· Office & Staff
· Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union
· Workers Union Rustam Sohrab Cycle Factory
· Women Workers
· Ittehad Labour Union Carpet Industries Pakistan
· Ijaz Enterprises
· Graveyard
· PECO worker
Special Study Circle
· Torture Day· Democracy & Dictatorship
Web site Training
Participation in:
v Demonstration against the demolishing residencev Workers Convention
v Watching a documentary film
v Demonstration against Israeli aggression
v Demonstration against 12 working hour
v Meeting of Lahore Social Forum
Study Circle
Leaders’ Meeting
A Monthly Study Circle Leaders Meeting Held on August 2, 2006 at 10.00 am
Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Progress Report
3. Regularity
4. Tests
5. Best practice in circle
i. SC Fund Bank
ii. Challenges
iii. visiting cards
6. Activism
7. Special circle of the month
a. Follow-up of last circle “charter of democracy”, Torture day etc.
b. SC on peace issue by Mr. Shahid Iqbal, Coordinator CPP - LEF,
i. Participation in demo August 06, 2006
1. Introduction
It was the 7th month of 2nd year of the Adult Literacy Development Programme funded by Swedish Teacher Union, local branch Goteburg with the collaboration of 4 trade unions (Workers Union Rustam Sohrab Cycle Factory, Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union, Ittehad Labour Union Carpet Industries Pakistan and a group of Women Workers Help Line).
In this month 16 study circles are functioning:
Union / Basic Circle / Advance CircleWomen Workers Help Line / 3 / 3
Workers Union Rustam Sohrab Cycle Factory / 0 / 3
Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union / 2 / 1
Ittehad Labour Union Carpet Industries Pakistan / 2 / 2
Total / 7 / 9
2. Progress Report
Progress of SC leaders regarding organized the circles, its participants and visits conducted by the Coordinator for the month of July 2006 is as under;
S # / Name of Basic SCL / Org / No. of Visit / EnrolledParticipants / No. of Circle
1 / Rukhsana Khanum Naz / WWHL / 4 / 12 / 13
2 / Shahnaz Akhtar / WWHL / 2 / 10 / 13
3 / Nig'hat Sultana / WWHL / 2 / 14 / 12
4 / Dr. Pervez John / PBMU / 2 / 8 / 13
5 / Dr. Mushtaq Masih / PBMU / 2 / 6 / 6
6 / Mohd Shiraz Ahmed / ILUCIP / 3 / 11 / 13
7 / Wahid Khan / ILUCIP / 3 / 12 / 13
8 / Muhammad Sharif * / ILUCIP / 2 / * / *
9 / Muhammad Ashfaq* / ILUCIP / 2 / * / *
Total Basic Literacy Circles / 9 / 22 / 73 / 83
11 / Maria Saleem / WWHL / 3 / 9 / 12
12 / Nig'hat Sultana / WWHL / 2 / 7 / 13
13 / Samina Mustafa / WWHL / 2 / 7 / 13
14 / Asif Mahmood / RSCF / 2 / 11 / 11
15 / Zeeshan Barbra / RSCF / 2 / 7 / 6
16 / Muhammad Imran / RSCF / 2 / 7 / 7
17 / Dr. Pervez John / PBMU / 2 / 11 / 6
18 / Rahim Khan / ILUCIP / 3 / 12 / 13
19 / Abdul Rauf Khan / ILUCIP / 4 / * / *
20 / Mohd Munshi Khan / ILUCIP / 4 / 5 / 9
Total Advance Literacy Circles / 10 / 26 / 76 / 90
Grand Total / circles 19 / 48 / 149 / 173
* 3 Circles of Mr. Muhammad Sharif, Mr. Muhammad Ashfaq and Mr. Abdul Rauf Khan (ILUCIP) closed in this month due to in-efficient and non-cooperative behavior of the circle leaders.
3. Regularity; It is discussed in the SCL meeting to stop or control over the irregularity in the circle organizing or attend the monthly meeting; it is decided that if any SCL without any information could not attend the meeting or late in meeting or did not give proper time in circle he will pay Rs. 50 fine or give half an hour lecture in monthly SCL meeting on the topic, as decided by the others.
4. Tests; As the follow-up of midterm test; Most of the circle leaders did not prepared the proper question papers for the midterm test due to work load. They again promised to do the same in this month.
a. Monthly Test; all of the SCL prepared monthly test question paper, almost SCL taken written test and prepared test result proper on the specified form provide by Coordinator in last meeting. Regarding monthly test another idea was discussed;
b. Mr. Rahim Khan said that there have no need to midterm test and nor any monthly test due to this wastage of the time. Only quarterly test will obtain by SCL.
c. Ms. Nig’hat Sultana, Mr. Shiraz Ahmed and Ms. Rukhsana said that the monthly test can be obtained after 2 month.
d. Dr. Mushtaq Masih disagreed this idea and said test is necessary to check the ability and level of participants increase or decrease even day to day, weekly or monthly.
e. Mr. Asif Mahmood said that if we give the target of test than participants show more interest in study to compete the test. They increase their writing skill. It is necessary in the month.
f. Coordinator told that if you can judge or check the level of your work and participant than it is necessary to take test monthly.
5. Best practice in circle (discussion & sharing)
a. SC Fund; All the study circle leaders discussed this idea in their circles; out of them some are disagreed with this idea. But mostly SC leaders given positive response; certainly some where fund collecting by participants of the circle are minimum or some where more according to their level. In the meeting it is decided that study circle leader can do set the rate of fund decrease or increase with the consultancy of participants.
a. Ms. Rukhsana told that their participants agreed to pay monthly SC fund @ Rs. 10 and she in charged one Ms. Shahida participants to collect fund.
b. Mr. Shahnaz told that their participants were not agreed to give even 1 rupee
c. Ms. Nighat; participants can give Rs. 10, out of them 1 or 2 those not able to pay
d. Dr. Mushtaq; he again discuss than can decide
e. Dr. Pervez John; participants can pay only Rs. 5 for this purpose
f. Mr. Muhammad Shiraz Ahmed; till not discussed
g. Mr. Wahid; was absent in last meeting, so in this month float idea in circle
h. Mr. Maria told that their participants did not afford more than Rs. 2 or 3
i. Mr. Asif Mahmood told that this idea float in the circle but it is expand toward other factory workers, most of the workers agreed to give fund but their expectations are also more other to use it. So, now he will discuss only in circle.
j. Mr. Zeeshan Babar; participants can pay Rs. 10 in each month.
k. Mr. Muhammad Imran; when the idea discussed with participants, they replied that they pay only Rs. 6 in the shape of one day did not take tea of circle.
l. Mr. Rahim Khan; he did not discuss with participants
m. Mr. Mohammad Munshi Khan; participants agreed to pay Rs. 10.
ii. Challenges; Coordinator opened a discussion & raised a question to all SCL. Describe what are the one best quality and one deficiency of the circle. All the SC leaders shared as;
Study Circle leader / Excellent practice of circle / Deficiency of circleMs. Rukhsana / Participants in time attend, even she was late. / Participants felt difficulty to learn English
Ms. Nig’hat Sultana / They understand better / They happy, if I don’t reach in time circle.
Dr. Mushtaq / Participants punctual, if available in town / There have no any deficit
Ms. Shehnaz / Participants understand the discussion / Some time they didn’t try to understand
Mr. Shiraz Ahmed / Participants punctual / If any festival near about, they did not interest in circle, want to go there
Mr. Wahid Khan / Participants discuss better and show interest on any issue / In the case of watching TV film, they did not interest to learn lesson
Ms. Maria Salim / Participants excellent work / Felt problem to understand English
Mr. Asif Mahmood / Participants respect me, attend demo and other activity / They have no deficit, only in me that I forget to reach in circle
Mr. Zeeshan Babar / Participants read newspaper and discussed the news / they attend circle late, almost
Mr. Imran / Participants told me about circle day / They blackmail if tea programme late
Dr. Pervez John / Participants learned with full concentration / There have time problem
Mr. Munshi Khan / Good learning / Participant are minimum
iii. Visiting cards/office card; All the SC leaders were happy to take visiting cards. Coordinator told the circle leaders to make 1x1” snap for office cards.
6. Activism
a. Coordinator appreciate the SC leaders, those attended and participated in the other activities like seminar and demonstrations and appeal to others to attend more programme to improve your knowledge, read the books, magazine. He also distributed 2 books; “Labour institutions and laws written by well known lawyer Mr. Ismat Kamal and Employees Old Age Benefits Act 1976 (22 question) by Shahid Mahmood” and monthly newsletter of “Labour Education” to each circle leader and said circle leaders can discuss these issues in their circles.
7. Special circle of the month
a. A study circle on peace issue organized after the meeting by Mr. Shahid Iqbal, Coordinator CPP & Ms. Jalvat Ali Coordinator DDP - LEF, in the reference of Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacked by America on August 6 and 9 in 1945. all the participants participate and more question raised about the clash of civilization.
i. Coordinator requests the SC leader to attend and ensure to participate in demo August 06, 2006 organized by LEF.
b. Most of the SC leader gives positive response as follow-up of last months special circles i.e. “charter of democracy”, Torture day etc and told that these topics discussed in their circles.
Topics of
Study Circles
In the month of July, almost circle leaders organized special circles, extra curriculum activities, and practical work on different topics or issue but most of them could not proper report, following SC leaders name & topics of activities are;
Circle leader / TopicsMs. Rukhsana Naz / · Child health
· Cricket in childhood
· Drawing
· Rains
· Union Council’s work
· Harassment of working women
Ms. Nig’hat Sultana / · Method to use vote & its casting (Practical)
Dr. Mushtaq Masih / · Rains & its affect on labour
· New pasture take over charge
Dr. Pervez John / · Bricks klin owners’ chit system
· Labour migration
Mr. M. Shiraz / · Musharaf government,
· Price hiking
· Transport system
· Free education facilities by LEF
Mr. Wahid Khan / · Bombay (India) Bomb blast & its charge/blame to Pakistan
· Israel attacks on Lebanon & American support
· Demand to pay increase
Ms. Maria Saleem / · Weather, rains, sewerage
· Save the water
· Dowry
· Children diseased
· Barriers to girls education & work
Ms. Nig’hat Sultana / · How to cast the vote
Ms. Samina Mustafa / · Method of application writing
Mr. Asif Mahmood / · Color (practical)
· Bill of increase working hour 8 – 12
· Participation in demo against labour rival laws
Mr. Mohd Imran / · Classical Soofia
· Why we participate in demonstration
Mr. Rahim Khan / · Budget 2006 and pay increase
Mr. M. Munshi Khan / · Time of National Song
· Chemical uses and its effects on worker of Carpet
Activities
Notice & Show Cause issued
In the month of July 2006 to check the circles and monitoring Coordinator conduct 48 visits of the circle and not availed weekly off or holiday enjoyed in July 2, 15, 23 and 30, 2006. During these visits coordinator observed some weaknesses of the circle. Coordinator prepared new notices and show cause notice, issued in Urdu to study circle leaders on any misconduct.
Visiting Cards of Study Circle Leaders
500 Visiting Cards of each study circle leader, prepared, designed and printed and hand over the circle leaders. There have also printed office identity cards to deliver the SC leaders.
Books distributed
2 books entitled “Employees Old Age Benefits Act 1976 (22 questions) by Shahid Mahmood and Labour Institutions and Laws, NIRC written by well known advocate Mr. Ismat Kamal purchased for each study circle leader to read and discuss these topics in the circle.
Meetings
There were arranged dozens meeting with different trade unions and groups of workers, WWHL leaders regarding enhance the capacity of SC leaders and workers, share the problems and feed back, follow-up of study circles and staff meetings.