ISLAMABAD: After conducting an academic and resource audit of schools, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has pointed out that there had been an increase in enrolments in schools.

An officer of the FDE said at the start of this academic year, the directorate had asked schools to take steps for increasing enrolments and in the recent audit, it was found the enrolment saw an increase of 20,000 new students.

“Earlier, we had around 225,000 students and now, we have 245,000 students,” the officer said, adding that these enrolments were increased due to the personal interest of schools heads.

“In April, we had set a target and now we are satisfied,” he said, adding that in a related development, the FDE had also provided required teachers in schools located in rural areas, where there was a shortage of them.

The officer said during audit, however, one thing was pointed out that in many schools, despite having resources, the best results were not produced. The officer said the FDE director general, Dr Ikram Ali Malik, had directed the wing concerned to take action against all those heads, who could not produce good results and in their place, new principals should be posted.

“Soon, over 30 principals will be removed from their positions. As despite having resources, their schools could not produce good results,” the officer said, adding that in the future, the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) of schools heads would be linked with the performance of their subordinate teaching staff as well.

He said the area education officers (AEOs) had been directed that before writing ACRs of schools heads, performance of their subordinate staff, should also be kept in view.

The FDE director general could not be approached for his comments.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2022