ISLAMABAD: Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has failed to implement the order of Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Usman Ibrahim regarding abolition of evening classes in two main colleges of the city.

The minister had announced through a press release last Wednesday that evening shifts will be abolished from Islamabad Model College for Boys H-8 and Islamabad Postgraduate Model College H-9 by Friday, October 17.

However, during a visit to these colleges on Tuesday, Dawn found evening shifts running as per routine.

Talking to Dawn teachers, requesting not to be named, opposed CADD’s decision saying it had ignored ground realities. “We have over 400 students in evening shift; how can they be accommodated in crowded morning classes,” said a teacher at H-8 College.

“We didn’t receive any notification in this regard,” said a teacher of H-9 College.

“However if we are forced to follow this directive, we will,” said a teacher.

Over 20,000 students are pursuing education in evening shifts at 19 model colleges and schools.

President Federal Government College Teacher Association Professor Sagheer Ahmed Mirani said ending evening classes was not an easy task.

FDE spokesman Professor Tahir Bhatti said: “The matter is already in our notice and efforts are being made to implement the minister’s orders,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014