Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Unnecessary and biased transfers of the faculty in the educational institutions across the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has badly impacted on the teachers’ performance which has led to the suffering of enrolled students.

The Daily Times, through an investigation, has learnt that despite the sanctioned teaching staff many schools and colleges of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) were functioning without a permanent faculty.

Several institutions either did not have complete teaching staff or they were filing the majority of positions on a temporary basis. The actual staff went to work in other colleges which they found to be more convenient. A large number of teachers are serving in the institutions appropriate for them, disclosed the sources.

The sectors Tarnol , Nilore, Bhara kahu are particular places where the issue has been observed.

The Federal College for Girls I-14/3 and Federal College for Girls Bhara Kahu which were inaugurated by the Capital Administration and Development Minister (CADD) Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, are top examples of this issue. As many as 200 students were enrolled with the Federal College for Girls I-14/3 but the college did not have staff on permanent basis as is the requirement. All the existing staff is working on a temporary basis while maintaining their positions in other institutions.

The college principal Dr.Balqees while admitting the facts said that she had written several times to the authority concerned, adding that soon the college will get a permanent faculty and funds.

Responding to a question she claimed “to appoint, transfer or expel the staff as per requirements, was not my authority rather the entity concerned should review these things before inauguration of any college”.

The same situation was prevailing in the Girls College in Bhara Kahu which, according to the sources, has been left at the mercy of God after inauguration by the minister.

The sources further revealed that even now the funds could not be allocated for the college. “Except photo-sessions during the inauguration ceremony, the authorities did not paid any heed to the development of the college”.

Islamabad Model College for girls Shah Allah Ditta is another ample example of maladministration. A faculty member of the college wishing not to be named disclosed that the sanctioned staff of the college was around 40 teachers while currently only 20 teachers were working for around 500 enrolled students.

“The college did not have any computer teacher for almost two years despite having a furnished computer lab and equipment”, the teacher maintained. The same issue was also observed in the Islamabad Model for Boys Shah Allah Ditta as the school had a low number of teachers and no teacher was willing to join the school located in the far-flung area of the city.

Federal Girls Schools Gokeena and Talhaar were have a shortage of staff, a well informed official in the FDE revealed.

The sources in the FDE disclosed that the teachers used to influence the high-ups for transfers to their desired stations on transient basis while the post in his/her actual station remained vacant. The official further revealed that several colleges in the urban areas of the ICT had many teachers specialising in the same subject instead of meeting the demand of the courses being taught in the college. No official was willing to join the empty posts particularly in the rural areas, the official regretted.

Another FDE official, wishing anonymity asked “how can a teacher who holds a Masters degree in English literature teach math”.

A senior Deputy Director in the FDE said on the condition of anonymity that a large number of teachers were holding administrative positions in the FDE instead of teaching in schools and colleges.

He quoted the example of Tariq Masood who was currently serving as Director Colleges. “How could a teacher serve well on such posts as he does not have administrative experience”, the DD questioned. Despite repeated attempts on her mobile, the DG FDE Shahnaz A Raiz did not respond for comments on the issue.