ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday reshuffled administration of key educational institutions once again and appointed a grade 20 officer with no experience of working in the education sector as head of both Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and National Institute of Science & Technology (NISTE).

The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) issued two notifications appointing the officer as seventh head of FDE and fourth chief of NISTE this year.

According to the notification available with Dawn, Aamir Ashraf Khawaja has been appointed DG FDE and NISTE, in place of Qaiser Majeed Malik heading FDE and Umar Hameed heading NISTE.

Additional Secretary (CADD) Qaiser Majeed and Joint Secretary Umar Hameed were running affairs of the two organisations on a temporary basis.

FDE is a key administrative body, which looks after the affairs of 423 educational institutions of federal Capital, while NISTE is mandated to ensure quality in science, technical and information technology education.

Mr Khawaja was transferred to CADD from National Counter Terrorism Authority (NCTA) a few days back.

“In pursuance of Establishment Division’s notification issued on November 20, Mr Aamir Ashraf Khawaja, presently posted in CADD is transferred and posted as Director General FDE,” the notification said.

Five minutes later, CADD issued another notification stating that Mr Khawaja, DG FDE will hold additional charge of the post of DG (BS-21), NISTE for a period of three months or until availability of a regular candidate for the post.

Meanwhile, Federal Government Colleges Teacher Associations (FGCTA) and non-teaching staff associations of schools opposed the appointment of new DG, claiming that CADD has made the appointment in sheer violation of rules.

They claimed that according to rules, the senior most professor of grade 20 of a degree college under FDE or the senior most director of FDE with 17 years of experience could only be appointed as DG.

CADD additional secretary told Dawn “while appointing new DG FDE we followed all rules and regulations”.

On the other hand, Federal Government College Teacher Associations President Professor Sagheer Ahmed Mirani told Dawn that the appointment was made in violation of rules.

“Per appointment rules for the post of DG a professor (BS-20) of FG Colleges or FDE director with 17 years of experience are eligible. This appointment is making a mess of the system. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Sardar Sadiq, representative of non-teaching staff associations said that frequent changes at the key post of FDE have badly affected the quality of education in FDE schools.

“This year, we have already seen six DGs come and go and now, CAAD in sheer violation of rules has appointed yet another one,” he said.

Employees of NISTE also expressed concern over the frequent temporary appointments for the key administrative position in the organisation.

They blamed some officers at CADD for creating hurdles in appointment of permanent DG, because they always try to take additional charge of this position to enjoy perks and privileges that come with it.

“During the last two years, we saw eight temporary DGs, who all enjoyed perks and privileges from NISTE,” said a senior officer of NISTE, who wished not to be named.

“This year, Joint Education Officer (CADD) Rafiq Tahir, Joint Secretary Hafiz Sher Ali (CADD), Joint Secretary Umar Hameed (CADD) have served at NISTE on temporary basis and now fourth one Aamir Ashraf Khawaja has been given additional charge. The people at the helm of affairs are bent upon destroying these institutions,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 25th , 2014