Daily Times

A legislative body of Upper House of Parliament on Wednesday recommended the government to reconsider the scale promotion matter of teachers working in educational institutions of Islamabad on priority basis.

This was discussed in the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage, which was held at Parliament House while Chairpersonship Senator Engr. Rukhsana Zuberi was on chair. Discussing the plight of teachers in educational institutions of Islamabad; that have not been given time scale promotions; the Committee was of the view that the system must be rectified. This was imperative to raise education standards in the city, the committee maintained. .

While taking up the Public Petition of deputationists 250 female teachers working under wedlock policy, the Committee asserted that the matter must be expedited and that it must be considered on humanitarian grounds. Rukhsana Zuberi asserted that the Federal Directorate of Education must look into the matter minutely.

The meeting was attended by Senator Mehr Taj Roghani, Senator Seemi Ezdi, Senator Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Senator Hilal ur Rehman, Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, and senior officers of the Ministry of Federal Education Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) along with all concerned. Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Ms. Wajiha Akram was present as well.

The meeting commenced with a detailed discussion on Points of Public Importance regarding B-Tech Equivalence and requirement for service structure for technologists in the country; raised by Senator Muhammad Ali Saif and Senator Mushtaq Ahmed respectively. The Committee was of the view that drawing a service structure for technologists is imperative to progress. Regarding the equivalence level of technologists the Committee asserted that technologists must come at par with engineering graduates. The Chairperson Committee asserted that the world is a global village and since Pakistan is a signatory of the Washington Accord it meets international standards. The National Technology Council informed the Committee of the measures being taken to ensure that high quality professional technologists may benefit society and so that technologists may be given preference for engineering jobs. It was asserted that a process for existing technologists is being formulated such as an assessment test so that through that they may be sifted and those who qualify may be allowed to complete a Master degree in Engineering. It was asserted that decisions on this issue must be taken going beyond professional body prejudice as trained human capital was being wasted. Chairperson Engr Rukhsana Zuberi was of the view that a workable solution must be ensured at the earliest. She gave the National Technology Council a 90 day deadline.

Taking up the Public Petition submitted of by Shairyar Abid regarding non-accreditation of graduate students from Engineering Universities the Committee directed VC of Bahauddin Zakria University Dr. Mansoor Akber Kund, against whom the complaint was directed to close such programs, The Committee stressed that feasibility of courses must be ascertained and Chairman HEC, Tariq Banuri endorsed the same. HEC asserted that it had posted alerts against such universities on its website.

Considering the Public Petition submitted by Dr. Sher Afzal regarding employment problems being faced by Ph.D students the Committee was of the view that special provision must be made to accommodate Ph.D graduates and that those in government jobs must be given preference while getting promotions.

Bills passed by the Committee included the Women University Islamabad Bill. 2021 introduced by Senator Seemi Ezdi and the Islamabad Educational Examinations (prevention of unfair means) Bill, 2021 introduced by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi. The Committee lauded the Women University Islamabad Bill. 2021 wholeheartedly and stressed the need for similar countrywide endeavors. The Bill was recommended and approved by the Committee. Regarding the Islamabad Educational Examinations (prevention of unfair means) Bill, 2021, the Committee approved it and said that this is the need of the hour. Secretary Education, Ms. Farah Hamid acknowledged the fact that the system has flaws which must be rectified.