ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: Out of the total development budgetary allocation of Rs270.156 million for the capital schools, Rs46.7 million (25 per cent) is utilized in the non-salary budget of 19 Islamabad model colleges (IMCs), compared to Rs32.9 million (five per cent of the total budget) for 377 federal government (FG) institutions.

An official source told Dawn that the non-salary budget was used in purchasing machinery, petroleum products, bills, furniture, repairs, different contingent bills and extra- curricular activities.

While expressing his displeasure with the situation, the science, technology and education minister, Prof Attaur Rehman, had recently directed the authorities concerned to bring the FG institutions on a par with the model colleges.

The ratio of teachers per section at the primary level in the IMCs is two, against one in the FG institutions, and at the secondary level, it is 2.5 in the former and 1.5 in the latter. However, at the college level, the ratio is three in both type of institutions.

About 555 seats of teachers in the FG institutions are still vacant. Out of this total number, 173 seats are in boys and 382 in girls institutions. The sanctioned strength of the teachers in these institutions, from primary to the secondary level, is 4,588, but only 4,033 seats have been filled.

About 24 FG schools, out of 105 secondary schools, do not have proper laboratories, and 290 more class rooms are still needed to accommodate the existing number of students. The students of the FG institutions are also faced with lack of basic facilities like drinking water, lavatories and perimeter walls, specially in the girls schools.

According to a government study, the major problem at the FG institutions was inadequate educational/professional qualification of teachers, compared to that of the IMC teachers.

The source said notwithstanding qualification, undue pressure or interference in the past, resulted in induction of those who did not have required teaching skills. Besides, the FG institutions were also facing disproportionate percentage between science and arts teachers — 12 per cent and 88 per cent, respectively.

On the other hand, the student fund in FG schools was Rs10 per individual, against Rs100 per student in IMCs. The FG institutions are also facing absence of dedicated teachers’ training institute and allocation of regular training budget for in-service teachers’ training.

The principals of the FG institutions are often appointed on seniority basis without any educational management training, which, some times, resulted in bad management and poor leadership.