ISLAMABAD: The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is making efforts to put in place an e-filing system in all schools and colleges as offices of the area education officers (AEOs) have already been computerised.

This was stated by FDE Director General Dr Ikram Ali Malik while talking to the participants of a ceremony held at the Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) G-7/2 to inaugurate a tree plantation campaign in educational institutions of the capital on Monday.

According to an official, the FDE and all area education offices have already been computerised. In the second phase, all colleges and higher secondary schools will be shifted to the e-filing system.

The DG told the teaching staff at the function that until an e-filing system is put in place, they can communicate with the FDE through emails, regarding any issue, which would be promptly responded.

FDE, area education offices already computerised, official says

“No need to waste you time in physically visiting the FDE as you are supposed to focus on teaching.”

He informed them that the FDE had been working to resolve longstanding issues of schools and colleges. Seniority lists of teachers, promotion cases, pension and several other issues of teachers have been resolved, he said.

Another major issue of operating 200 buses, which had been procured a couple of years ago but remained off the road due to the absence of a mechanism, has been resolved as recently the federal cabinet allowed the FDE to run these buses under a cost-sharing formula.

Under the formula, 40pc expenditure will be borne by the government and 60pc will be met through cost sharing under the school management committees, he added.The DG acknowledged that the quality of education, which used to be a hallmark of the FDE-run schools and colleges till the late ‘90s, faced a decline during the last 15 years. He directed the teaching community to fully focus on improving the quality of education.

About the plantation drive, he said that all the 423 educational institutions had been directed to plant at least 100 sapling each.

“This season, we will plant 1t least 40,000 trees in schools and colleges.”

He said schools having sufficient area should plant more than 100 trees and those lacking space should plant saplings outside schools.

He said all grounds of schools should be well maintained and there should be no excuse that the institutions were facing shortage of gardeners and other supporting staff.

Speaking to Dawn, Teachers’ Association President Malik Ameer said Pakistan is amongst 10 countries vulnerable to climate change.

Besides other citizens, it is also incumbent upon teachers and students to plant trees and play their role to make the country green and clean. He said teachers of all schools will make the tree plantation campaign a success.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2021