ISLAMABAD: Once a model both in name and in reputation, the government-run schools of the federal capital are now known more as being worse-managed.

Perhaps, the fall in grace is because some schools have one teacher to a class crammed with over 50 students while in others it could be just five students in a class.

Blame that on mismanagement or political interference, but the fact is that there is no rational policy for the teachers working in the 422 educational institutions run by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

And the vast discrepancy in the load of students on teachers was officially certified in a survey, titled Annual Education Census 2013-14, conducted by the FDE itself.

“We are helpless,” an FDE official to Dawn.

“We cannot initiate any move to remove the teachers from their cosy, choice postings as they enjoy strong political and bureaucratic support.”

Last year, former Director General Qaiser Majid Malik attempted to put in a rational policy but was transferred before he could take any concrete step. His successor, Amir Ashraf Khawaja, too tried that and was replaced within a few months by the incumbent, Shahnaz A. Riaz .

She is on holidays and Sahib Raza Hasnain Kharal, who is acting in her place, told Dawn on Wednesday that file work is underway to streamline the system.

“I agree, the annual educational Census 2013-14 shows irrational figure about teacher-student ratio in many schools. Soon, we will take steps to improve the situation,” he assured, noting that implementation of a proper, rational education policy is due since long.

According to Census document, there are dozens of schools where one teacher is responsible to teach just five to 10 students, while in other schools one teacher is supposed to teach over 50 students.

Islamabad Model School for Boys (Primary) Pind Malkan is the classic example of such mismanagement. It has five teachers and only 25 students.

Similarly, the FDE has appointed 11 teachers in the Islamabad Model School for Girls (IMSG Primary) at Ghangota Syedan which has a total of 63 students on its rolls. The IMSG (Elementary) Mandla, has 15 teachers for 95 students.

And IMSG (Primary) Pindory Syedan, IMSG Ladhiot and IMSB Noon are among those schools where one teacher is supposed to teach around eight students and the IMSG Sheikhpur Noon has nine teachers for 47 students.

On the other hand, there are dozens of schools, where overburdened teachers cannot properly teach their students.

At IMSG High School, New Shakrial, 13 teachers have to teach 1,155 students, producing 1:82 teacher-student ratio. The IMCG Punjgran (Primary), which has total strength of 1,252, has only 19 teachers with a ratio of 1:57; and the 56 teachers of IMCG I-10/4 have to teach 3,253 students - a ratio of 1:63. Similarly, IMSG NHC has 18 teachers for its 1,080 students, a ratio of 1:60.

There are a number of boys schools where student/teacher ratio is between 1:10 to 1:20.

Official sources said that FDE and the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) of the federal government plan to transfer hundreds of teachers during the summer vacations to streamline the system. However, no step has been taken so far in that direction. They said that besides FDE’s negligence teachers unions and political figures are behind the sorry state of affairs.

A director of FDE, who requested not be named, said that the current Director General FDE Shahnaz A. Riaz does not have the power to transfer any teacher. Secretary CADD Khalid Hanif has the authority for transfer and postings, according to him.

“We are serious about a rational policy, but we can’t overstep CADD,” he said, worrying at the same time about further deterioration in the education system.

When asked for his comments, Secretary CADD Khalid Hanif said: “I have directed FDE officers to complete homework for implementation of rational policy. We will start this drive very soon.”

According to international standards there should be one teacher for 25 students.

But the FDE’s Census last year concluded that “the situation in Islamabad is not all that bad” as the 8,486 teachers it has employed for the 207,519 students in its 422 educational institutions produce a 1:24 teacher-student ratio.

However, the situation on the ground can only get worse when too many teachers get appointed in schools of their choice.

In 2013, the overall teacher-student ratio in Pakistan was 1:43, the lowest among the South Asian countries, according to a World Bank report.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2015

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