ISLAMABAD: A large number of female teachers from provinces working in Islamabad under the wedlock policy on Tuesday held a protest outside National Press Club (NPC) against the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) for ordering their repatriation.

Later, speaking at a press conference at the NPC, representatives of the teachers including Javed Swati, Riffat Waqar, Shamim Akhtar, Nusrat Qadir and Abida Naz said in order to facilitate working spouses to live together the government had formulated the wedlock policy and also allocated 10 per cent quota for absorption of teachers working under the FDE.

In 2012, the then prime minister approved a summary moved by the education ministry for permanent absorption of the teachers who had by then worked in the capital for over five years.

In 2013, the FDE asked the teachers for submitting permanent no-objection certificates (NOCs) from their parent departments. The teachers also appeared in tests and interviews and completed all the required procedures.

However, after completing the formalities, the FDE dragged its feet on regularising the teachers but absorbed scores of blue-eyed teachers.

In 2020, the teachers moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking direction to the FDE for absorption of the teachers. They said the FDE officials contended in the court that these teachers had joined the FDE without following the required procedure, including the posts being advertised.

They said the FDE has ordered repatriation of over 200 teachers so far. They said the teachers cannot shift back to their native areas after so many years as their families are now settled in Islamabad and their children are continuing their education in schools and colleges.

They called upon the prime minister and the education minister to take notice of the issue and direct the FDE to withdraw the repatriation orders of the teachers and implement the policy approved by the prime minister in 2012.

When contacted, an officer of the FDE said the teachers were being repatriated on the direction of Islamabad High Court.

He said recently a single bench of court in its detailed judgment had directed the FDE to repatriate all those who were serving in schools and colleges without following due process.

“We formed a committee, which pointed out that these teachers were brought to Islamabad on pick-and-choose basis without following any procedure,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2021