ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Education has moved a summary to the Ministry of Interior for onward submission to the federal cabinet, seeking amendment to a clause of the Local Government Ordinance 2021, which is related to school education of Islamabad.

The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education, which met here on Wednesday with Senator Irfan Siddiqui in the chair discussed concerns that have been raised by the teaching community over the ordinance.

The committee reviewed the case of promulgation of the ordinance, which envisages placing institutions currently under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) under the Municipal Corporation of Islamabad (MCI).

Earlier, the issue was raised by Senators Mushtaq Ahmed and Kamran Murtaza and it was then referred to the committee. However, the additional secretary (education) told the committee that the matter was heading towards an amicable solution.

Senators want weekly updates on the issue; matter heading towards amicable solution, official says

He said the teachers had ended the strike and they resumed duties accordingly from Wednesday, adding that all out efforts were being made to address reservations of protesting teachers.

Mr Wani said amendments had been made in the documentation and a summary sent to the Ministry of Interior that had initiated the ordinance.

The committee was informed that the basic objection of teachers was against Article 166 of the Ordinance, he said, adding amendments were shared with stakeholders, as per which, all recruitment and administrative matters will remain with the federal government and the MCI will only be responsible for monitoring and maintenance of institutions.

Chairman of the committee, while lauding efforts of the ministry decided to keep the issue on the agenda of the committee until a logical conclusion is reached. The ministry has been directed to share amendments with the committee at the earliest and provide regular weekly updates on the issue. Members strongly discouraged the use of ordinances as a legislative tool and stressed the need for this practice to be curbed.

Meanwhile, the committee reviewed measures being taken by the National Curriculum Council (NCC) to rectify errors in the single national curriculum (SNC) that are being designed to minimise disparity in the national education system. Members were informed that the NCC had taken serious note of their observations and is in the process of engaging top notch publishing houses to give the federal government unlimited licence to quality textbooks, that could be emulated by provinces as well. NCC has partnered with The Citizen’s Foundation, as well in this regard, members were told.

Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed stressed the need for reviewing the working of textbook boards.

Earlier, the committee chairman while discussing SNC asserted that in order to move ahead, it was imperative that Pakistan builds a link with its past and ensures that the next generation has complete knowledge of the tribulation and strife that this country faced. This, he said, was the only way forward and the sole method that would develop national integration among students.

It was noted that an honest account of history with respect to democratic values, struggle for democracy and supremacy of the Constitution is the need of the hour.

Earlier, Senator Sardar Mohammad Shafiq Tareen said that the scholarship programme through which students of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Balochistan were facilitated must be resumed. Currently, 2,092 students are studying on scholarships provided by the programme.

Students have been sitting in front of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) since the last two months waiting for this issue to be resolved, he said, adding representatives of the Planning Commission, Ministry of Health and Ehsaas must get together to discuss it.

The committee was also told that after effort during the 10th Accreditation and Equivalence Committee meeting held in November, 2021, HEC recommended that a bachelor’s degree in engineering (minimum 16 years of education) and a Bachelor’s degree in an equivalent technology (minimum 16 years of education) are at par for recruitment, pay scales and grades.

Senator Rukhsana Zuberi pointed out the issue of unruly activities in university campuses with particular reference to the lawlessness on the campus of International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI).

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2022