‘Denial of holidays’ to FDE students protested

Islamabad

Parents have complained about ‘denial’ of holidays to their children enrolled in Islamabad’s government schools over the current inclement weather, especially foggy and cold conditions.

According to them, it is ironic that the Capital Administration and Development Division hasn't objected to the city’s private schools closing campuses over severe cold and intense foggy conditions but barred Islamabad’s government educational institutions from doing so.

The CADD oversees the federal capital’s government schools and colleges through the Federal Directorate of Education and private ones through the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority.

Ironically, the schools in the adjoining Rawalpindi city, both government and private ones, have been closed by the government over the severe cold to keep minor students from falling ill.

They were closed on January 26 and will reopen on January 1.

Most privately-owned schools in Islamabad were quick to announce they would follow in the footsteps of the Punjab government, though they’re bound to follow the instructions of the PEIRA, which didn’t announce one-week holidays for them.

“As a regulator for education in Islamabad, the CADD has a double standard. Just look it has denied our children the fog holidays but closes the eyes to the private schools closing campuses for a week without permission,” said the father of two children studying at the I-9/4 boys school.

The mother of another student of the government school asked if the Punjab government could care for children in the inclement weather by closing schools across the province including Rawalpindi, why the CADD didn’t follow suit for the good health of the students of the adjoining Islamabad.

She also said she was confused about the actual reason behind the closure of Punjab schools because foggy conditions cited as a reason by the government for shutting campuses had subsided.

“The confusion has left me with a sneaking suspicion about the reality behind the schools’ closure,” she said asking the government to clearly answer the parents’ questions in this respect.

Though Monday, Wednesday and Thursday were not close days, students went to local schools in small numbers. 

daily wagers: At last, the striking Federal Directorate of Education daily wagers, including schoolteachers, resumed duty on Thursday.

The development comes as Minister of State for the Capital Administration and Development Division Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry promised the announcement of a policy about the future of the FDE employees working on the basis of daily wage.

Those working at the FDE on daily wage, including teachers of model colleges, total around 2,000.

They have been protesting in Islamabad for more than a month against non-payment of salary and for regularisation of services.

During a meeting of the Senate standing committee of the Cabinet Secretariat chaired by Senator Rana Muhammad Hayat, the protest of the FDE daily wagers was examined.

After a detailed discussion, the CADD minister announced his division would come up with a clear policy on the issue within a month.

After the announcement, representatives of the FDE daily wagers promised to resume duty forthwith but said they would continue taking up the matters with the relevant quarters to claim rights.

Local PTI MNA Asad Umar warned he would lead a sit-in of FDE daily wagers at the city's key square, D Chowk, if the CADD didn’t keep its promise.

Schoolchildren welcomed the return of teachers to duty saying this will help them prepare well for the imminent annual examinations.