ISLAMABAD: As the Central Selection Board (CSB) meeting is set to commence on Tuesday (tomorrow), concerns are mounting over the possible exclusion of three posts of senior headmistresses (BPS-20) from the promotion process due to delays and administrative obstacles.

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), responsible for preparing teachers’ promotion cases and removing any obstacles, has instead tasked the concerned teachers themselves with securing endorsements of the posts from the Ministry of Finance.

With only one working day left, deputy headmistresses are frustrated over the undue burden.

Despite a decision by the Islamabad High Court two years ago, which ensured the correction of the four-tier promotion formula for teachers, the fate of several deserving deputy headmistresses hangs in the balance.

FDE asks deputy headmistresses to get endorsements of posts from Ministry of Finance on their own

Two years ago, Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani had directed the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance to rectify the disrupted promotion formula for teachers of junior sections of Islamabad Model Colleges. This led to the addition of three BPS-20 posts of senior headmistresses by eliminating three BPS-17 posts. Teachers argue that this last-minute requirement places an undue burden on them as they are neither familiar with the internal working of these ministries nor equipped to navigate the bureaucratic maze.

“With only Monday left to complete the process, time is running out, and the responsibility of securing endorsements should not fall on the teachers but on the relevant authorities,” said a college teacher.

The following deputy headmistresses are in line for promotion to the four vacant BPS-20 posts: Lubna Mahmood, Islamabad College for Boys, G-6/3; Mehreen Ashraf, Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG), F-7/4; Umme Rubab, Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB), F-7/3; Nusrat Bashir, IMCG, G-10/2, Dr Nasreen Bano, IMCB, G-11/1 and Salma Naseer, Islamabad College for Girls, F-6/2.

“It is not the duty of teachers to run from pillar to post to complete bureaucratic formalities,” said one of the deputy headmistresses.

“We are not familiar with the offices of the Ministry of Finance or the Establishment Division, and time is running out. Only Monday is left to complete this process.”

Another deputy headmistress expressed frustration over the situation. “This is a clear contempt of court if our promotions are not considered in the upcoming CSB meeting. The secretary education, as the head of the department, must intervene and ensure that all formalities are completed. It is the responsibility of the FDE and the education ministry to facilitate this process,” she said.

Another teacher lamented that bureaucrats secure their own promotions smoothly whereas teachers are forced to chase their cases outside their department.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2025