ISLAMABAD, Jan 7: Education in the government-run schools in the federal capital is suffering as teachers are reluctant to serve in the outlying areas, according to sources in the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

Even those posted inside the city proper are always pushing for transfer to a school or college nearest to their residence. The political pressure that they bring about to get their wish gives the FDE jitters.

“Someone has to teach in the schools near Simli Dam, Sihala or Bhara Kahu. But teachers are unwilling to go anywhere except the main city, closer to their home the better,” said a frustrated FDE official.

In his view the teachers unions are pressure groups. They seem to exist only to fight with the Federal Directorate of Education and the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) for their demands, with no concern for improving their professional capacity.

“All we ask them is to do their job, take their classes and prepare their students for winning top positions,” his colleague added, recalling how the unions exploited the FDE with threats and strikes.

Worse still was the derelict teachers' dislike for someone doing an honest job. He cited the example of the principal of a college in F-7/2 who was resented because she took classes herself and made sure all other teachers did too.

On the other hand there is a teacher residing in Sector G-6 who is fighting her transfer to a school in Bari Imam because she wants her workplace nearer home. The problem concerns more schools than colleges and female teachers than male.

FDE Director-General Atif Mehmood Kayani wants the system of 'temporary duties' cancelled and transfers rationalised.

“A teacher should be transferred once in a year,” he said suggesting a teacher should earn his or her transfer by producing results at the end of the year.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani wanted the federal schools and colleges in Islamabad to rise as prestigious institutions and a model. That was the motive behind the government's decision to convert federal government institutions into model schools and

colleges and grant the teachers' demand for up-gradation.

“We have no problems being transferred anywhere in the capital,” said College Teachers Association (FGCTA) Secretary-General Tahir Mehmood who served eight years in F.G. College for Boys in H-9 and another nine years in F.G. College for Boys in H-8.

“Transfers in the midst of academic sessions do harm to students as well as teachers. Transfer of a teacher during two-year degree programme is also harmful where one session is taught by one professor and the next by another,” he said.

Teachers should be transferred during holidays only, he said.

Prof Zaffar Hussain who headed the Department of Computer Science in H-8 College in 2002 echoed his views.

Azhar Awan, president of the Federal Government Teachers Association (FGTA) representing schools, said the problem was genuine for the teachers and, in the short term, could be solved by providing pick-and-drop service to them.

“Their desire to serve in the main city is understandable,” he said. “Female teachers suffer most because most of them don't own cars and the public transport system is rickety.”

He said he had recommended to the authorities to recruit qualified locals to teach in the schools in the outlying areas of Islamabad. “Once these measures are taken nobody will have the desire to return to the main city and resist transfers,” said the FGTA chief.