Senate panel reinstates 137 dismissed teachers

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training reinstated 137 teachers who were previously dismissed. All of them were officially notified and regularised on 18th November 2024.

Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training met under its chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt Tuesday at the Parliament House on Tuesday. Senator Bushra Anjum Butt emphasized that the committee’s primary objective is to facilitate deserving individuals, particularly youth, in overcoming challenges in their education.

In a statement, Chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt criticised certain sections of the media for spreading inaccurate information. The particular media outlet had erroneously praised the Ministry of Federal Education for the reinstatement of teachers whereas it was solely the untiring efforts of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training. According to the chairperson of the Senate panel, the issue had remained stalled for years but gained momentum in the last six months due to the daily hearings of the Senate panel leading to their reinstatement. The chairperson also formally banned the media outlet that propagated the misleading information, “If information is to be manipulated, then there is no need for it to be reported,” Senator Bushra Anjum Butt lamented.

In the meanwhile, the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training discussed the Private Members Bill on Educational Curriculum moved by Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Marri. A subcommittee was formed, led by Senator Kamran Murtaza, Senator Khalida Ateeb, and Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Marri, to review the federal supervision of Curricula, Textbooks, and Maintenance of Standards of Education (Amendment) Bill 2024. The bill will undergo further scrutiny from the perspective of reproductive health to be included in the curricula, under the directions of the Council of Islamic Ideology.

Senator Bushra Anjum Butt also advocated for mental health education to be incorporated into the national curriculum, highlighting the importance of addressing issues like depression, anxiety, and demotivation among youth. Additionally, she emphasized the need for comprehensive education on reproductive health as presented in the bill.

Senator Shahadat Awan raised a question regarding the number of scholarships offered during the past three years. The committee chairperson instructed the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to expedite the response. Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan raised a point of public importance concerning derogatory remarks about Pashtuns in O-level textbooks. The committee took immediate action, securing a formal apology from the author. All copies of the offending textbooks were confiscated, and an official notification was issued to remove them from the market. The books will be reprinted and republished without errors.

A comprehensive briefing was presented by the CEO of the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund, formerly known as NEST, regarding the organization’s performance and the status of scholarships offered to students. The chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee emphasized the need for an official audit report to ensure there was no fraudulent activity. She also stressed the importance of appointing a permanent CEO to ensure the organization operates effectively and efficiently.