The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has directed striking assistant primary school teachers to immediately return to work, ending their ongoing work stoppage and exam boycotts.

The ministry warned that those participating in disruptive activities could face action under service laws, conduct rules and criminal law.

The directive was issued in a notification signed by the ministry’s Senior Information Officer Abdullah Shibli Sadiq on Wednesday afternoon.

The ministry noted that the teachers’ demands, including upgrading their pay scale to grade 11, have been forwarded to Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Administration.

Additionally, the Primary Education Adviser has personally discussed the issue with the Finance Adviser and the Chair of Pay Commission.

Earlier, a petition regarding upgrading the pay scale for 364 assistant teachers to grade 11 was submitted to Pay Commission Chair.

The notification also criticized certain teachers’ organizations for obstructing annual examinations despite administrative measures being taken to address their demands.

In some instances, teachers who tried to conduct exams faced physical attacks, endangering the education of young children.