Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Education Reforms Programme has failed to mature in a streamlined manner, Daily Times has learnt.

In 2015, the federal government had launched the PM’s Education Reforms Programme amidst much fanfare. The government announced to provide all basic facilities to 422 educational institutions functioning under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

The project aimed to completely restructure the federal educational institutions. Over Rs 4 billion was allocated for the project which was to be completed in various phases. Under the first phase, 22 schools have been upgraded.

According to documents available with Daily Times, a number of approved resources, including computers, close circuit cameras, furniture and other equipment have not yet been provided to these 22 schools.

According to the documents, 47,000 tubular chairs were going to be provided to the schools. However, only 4,227 such chairs have been provided so for.

Under the programme, the government was going to provide 1,740 dual desks to facilitate the students. However, the actual provision has not exceeded 1,333.

The report revealed that out of a total of 157 rostrums that were to be provided, only 49 have reached the schools so far.

Likewise, 400 revolving chairs were to be provided to the students, but only 287 have been handed over to the schools.

Similarly, the authorities had agreed to provide 1,526 display boards of various categories, but the schools have only received 868 such boards. The remaining 658 display boards have not been distributed in the 22 schools.

The documents revealed that the authorities had also planned to provide racks, round tables and chairs for junior students. However, they have not been distributed.

An FDE report revealed that there have also many deficiencies in providing furniture items and other facilities for principals’ offices and staff rooms.

The information revealed that the authorities were supposed to provide 1,409 miscellaneous pieces of equipment. However, they could only provide 580.

A ministry official, who requested anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to the media, said that officials concerned should take serious action against the irregularities.

Talking to Daily Times, PM Education Reforms Programme Coordinator Ali Raza said that there had been a few such deficiencies and delays in the beginning, but they had been rectified now.

He said that a monitoring report had been compiled by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). “According to the report, 90 percent work has been completed in the schools,” he said.

However, when asked about a copy of the CDA report, he said: “I don’t have a copy of that report. The FDE might be able to provide you the report.”

Raza further elaborated that he only “looked after” quality affairs of the programme and the above mentioned issues related to “quantity”.