ISLAMABAD: Instead of imposing new charges on students, the Ministry of Education has decided to pay Rs100 million to the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) for smooth operation of the bus service of government schools and colleges in the capital.

Talking to Dawn, a senior officer of the Ministry of Education said the FDE would be given Rs100 million in the next couple of weeks for smooth functioning of the bus service without imposing fare charges on the students.

He said the funds would be arranged from various heads of the education ministry.

“We will request the Ministry of Finance for release of Rs100 million in lieu of our funds,” said the officer.

He said facing funds shortage to run the bus service the FDE had last year presented the matter before the federal cabinet, which had then decided to run the bus service on cost-sharing basis.

Move comes after minister directed students should not be charged

Therefore, while implementing the said decision of the cabinet, the FDE had recently empowered the School and College Management Committees to run the bus service on cost-sharing basis, he said.

The officer said the said committees then notified new rates of Rs2,500 per month that attracted criticism from the parents and students.

“Later, on the direction of the education minister, we have already directed the FDE to withdraw the said notification of committees and no new fare should be charged from the students,” he said.

Answering a query, the officer said the fare of approximately Rs600 to Rs800 per month was already being charged and that was also acceptable to the parents.

He said after notification of the new Rs2,500 fare the parents and students had started raising hue and cry.

“So, we have issued directives that there would be no new charges,” he added.

On Friday, Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain had directed the FDE to withdraw the notification about charging the bus fee from the students.

“Have taken strict notice of the reports regarding imposition of Rs2,500 as new transport/bus fee in schools/colleges under the ambit of the Federal Directorate of Education, Islamabad. Directions issued that NO such fee will be charged & for FDE to withdraw any such order,” the minster tweeted.

Earlier, the parents had also urged the FDE to withdraw the notification for charging the bus fee, saying that paying Rs2,500 per student for bus use was beyond their capacity.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2022