Zubair Qureshi
Teachers of the Islamabad Schools and Colleges located in the urban areas have expressed concerns at the Federal Directorate of Educations’ (FDE) orders to remain present in their educational institutes until 5 p.m. for two days i.e. Monday (today) and Tuesday (tomorrow) for the Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM).
In the rural areas, however, the timing is lax, i.e. from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
In the past the PTM used to be held on an off day like Saturday during the usual school timing and it was not a problem as the teachers didn’t have any class.
But after a recent decision by the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training (FE&PT) now the PTM will be held on working days after the school hour and the poor teachers will have to stretch their day work from 8 a.m (in some cases 7 a.m. to 5 p.m) and there will be no compensation like allowance/bonus nor food or beverage as token of their extra work.
While talking to Pakistan Observer, a number of female teachers expressed their concerns that Monday being the first day of the week is already very busy and many of them have to accompany their children to and from the schools. “Has the FDE any idea how we shall be able to manage our kids’ return from schools as we shall be bound for the PTM and who will serve them (kids and other family members) meals upon their return?” they said.
If the FDE desired our presence at schools after the off-hours, it should have announced compensation for us for the extra work, said a lady teacher of one of the model schools wishing not to be named.
Another teacher whose two children come and go with her was worried about her children’s return as she might not be able to drive them back and moreover what about their luncheon back home? Another was surprised at the bureaucratic mindset at the top level and said that the Federal Secretary and the DG etc should have consulted the heads and senior teachers before passing such a bizarre order. After the day’s work we shall be pretty exhausted and left with no energy. Under that condition we are asked to engage the parents and interview them one by one regarding their son/daughter’s performance.
Has the FDE thought about our meal? She asked. Who will provide us with the lunch or we shall remain hungry until 5.00 p.m.
An official of the Ministry of Education when contacted said holding of the PTM on working days was a demand of the teachers as they didn’t want to attend the schools for the PTM on Saturdays. We had been approached by the teachers several times that the PTM should be held on a working day and now the same is being objected to, he said.
Officers from the Ministry of Education and Heads of Departments (HODs) have been assigned to visit various institutions as per the directions. “This move ensures that the Ministry is actively engaged with educational institutions and committed to improving the quality of education,” he said.
