Education Watch: Technical education dying slow death at FDE schools

Published February 6, 2015
Students attend a class at a technical education centre. — White Star file photo
Students attend a class at a technical education centre. — White Star file photo

A number of Federal Directorate of Education run schools are facing shortage of teachers for technical subjects. Three decades ago, subjects such as electric wiring, wood work and metal work were introduced at some of these institutions.

During the early years of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam’s (PML-Q) rule workshops were set up at 10 schools giving a new lifeline to technical education.

However, since then no subsequent government has recruited staff for these workshops.

“The wood work teacher at our school retired almost two years ago. Following his retirement, we shutdown the workshop and the subject is no longer taught at our school,” said a teacher at Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) G-7/2.

A teacher at IMCB G-7/4 told said the electrical workshop at the school was closed because of shortage of staff. He said that machinery worth millions of rupees is catching dust in schools. “Students are missing out on the opportunity to learn skills which could help them make a living in the future,” he added.

“The FDE had once appointed a special assistant director to look after technical education. However, the last person holding this appointment, Muhammad Ali, also retired a few years back and no one was hired to take his place,” said a source at the FDE.

— Text by Kashif Abbasi

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.