ISLAMABAD: As many as 20 model colleges of the federal capital have cut enrollment by 50 per cent in class I after the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) abolished evening shift.

The FDE’s decision will not only decrease the overall enrolment in the capital’s government schools, but also force parents to get their children admitted to private institutions.

It is pertinent to mention here that in 1967, three model colleges were established – two of them in Islamabad and one in Dhaka.

The idea was to provide education from class I to college level in the same institution.

Because of the quality of education provided in model colleges, applications for admission there increased.

With the passage of time, 20 Islamabad model colleges (IMCs) were established. Besides, an evening shift was also introduced in 1985. At present, enrolment in IMCs is over 30,000.

An official of the FDE, requesting not to be identified, said after the promulgation of Article 25-A (April 19, 2010), which assured free education to all students from five to 16 years of age, it was decided to stop receiving fees from students in November 2013.

“Fee collected from students of the morning shift was deposited in the exchequer, but the fee collected from students of the evening shift was at the disposal of the principals, who used the amount to pay salaries of teachers in the evening shift. Therefore, enrolment in second shift increased comparatively,” he said.

“However, after the notification of the withdrawal of fee collection, it was decided to abolish the second shift from model colleges and students were to be sent to other government schools,” he said.

Sohail Jameel, father of a five year old, said he applied for the admission of his daughter in class I. The test was held on April 15 but her name was missing in the list displayed on April 19.

“I asked from the management, but an official said initially there was a plan to admit around 150 students, but then it was decided that the evening shift will not be offered so only 43 students out of 450 applicants were selected for the admission,” he said.

Sohail is not the only person who has been affected because of the new policy adopted by the FDE.

A similar situation was observed at almost every school, except the junior section of IMCG F-6/2, which has offered to admit the unsuccessful candidates in prep class.

A father of a student, who has been admitted in the school, requesting anonymity, said the institution had been receiving Rs2,000 as admission fee, and a further Rs200 per month fee for prep class.

Vice President of Central Academic Staff Association of Model Colleges Mehboob Ahmed, while talking to Dawn, said in the name of uniformity it was decided to send unsuccessful candidates of IMCs to the federal government (FG) schools, but a large number of people are not willing to send their children there.

“Moreover the managements and staff of FG schools are not ready to handover their buildings to IMCs, so ultimately the enrollment in IMCs will decrease,” he said.

A teacher of a model college, requesting anonymity, said because of the decision of FDE, people have been admitting their children in private schools.

Joint Secretary Capital Administration and Development Division Rafique Tahir, while talking to Dawn, said it had been decided, principally, to stop admissions in the evening shift.

“Because of the decision, the admissions of class I have been slashed by 50 per cent. I have heard complaints about IMCG I-10/4 also, but it has been decided to send the children to FG schools,” he said.

“There are 25 underutilised schools in the capital, which will be handed over to IMCs and the students will be sent there soon. Moreover, it will be mandatory for parents to get their children admitted in the sectors they live,” he said.