ISLAMABAD: The principals of educational institutions in the capital city are unable to finalise timetables for the next academic session as the future of over 1,000 teachers hangs in the balance after a decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

On May 29, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the IHC while hearing a petition ruled that the employees whose services were regularised by a committee during the pervious government had no legal standing as they were appointed without following the rules.

After the court decision, rumours spread that the teachers were being sacked. Moreover, in some colleges, salaries could not be paid to the teachers.

An Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG) principal requesting not to be identified said as per routine, timetables for the new classes were finalised about a month before the summer vacations and handed over to the teachers concerned.

After court ruling, principals are unable to finalise timetables for next academic session

Besides, during the summer vacations every principal called at least two teachers to help them deal with day-to-day affairs of the institution. But this year, the principals are confused if they should ask the teachers regularised by the regularisation committee to perform duties during the vacations.

“Because of the decision of the court, there is an uncertainty and the teachers are also not sure if they will be available after the summer vacations. On the other hand, I cannot assign the permanent staff to take extra classes because this will add to their workload,” she said.

“The teachers usually take five classes (periods) a day. They also have to check notebooks in the other three periods. So I cannot double their workload.”

An official of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) requesting anonymity said there was also the issue of salaries of the teachers who were regularised during the previous government.

“In some colleges, including the Islamabad College for Boys G-6/3 and the IMCG I-10/4, teachers could not get salaries for the last three months. Even before the summer vacations, the principals are not in a position to instruct the teachers to take classes as per their timetables because they have not been paid salaries,” he said.

An IMCB principal added that he was confused if he should call the teachers during the vacations.

“During the summer vacations, we call two teachers to deal with the day-to-day affairs along with the principal. I have handed over the schedule to the teachers but in case the services of the teachers are terminated, we will be facing problems,” he said.

When contacted, Joint Secretary CADD Rafique Tahir told Dawn that they had been coordinating with the Ministry of Finance and other departments to resolve the issue.

“The secretary CADD is trying to find a way out and regularise the services of the teachers. As far as the issue of salaries is concerned, arrangements have been made to pay the teachers through the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR). Moreover, funds are allocated in the budget 2014-15 for the salaries of the teachers,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2014