ISLAMABAD: The issue facing the appointment of the director general of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is likely to be resolved soon, as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its verdict on the matter.

Sources in FDE told Dawn the IHC will announce the verdict soon.

They said that in light of the decision of the IHC, the process of appointment of DG will move forward. It is relevant to note here that there was a stay against the appointment criteria of DG FDE.

Previously, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training had shortlisted three names for appointment against the slot.

However, a few months ago, the Prime Minister’s Office returned the summary, directing the ministry to get the court case cleared first and complete the process of appointing DG in the light of the court decision.

The FDE, which supervises over 430 schools and colleges in Islamabad, has been working without a regular director general since 2023.

The delay has raised questions about the efficiency of the education ministry and federal government. In the absence of a regular director general, the FDE is being run under temporary arrangements.

For the last several months, the joint secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education has been supervising FDE.

After considerable delay, the education ministry sent a summary carrying three names of shortlisted candidates to the PM office in September last year, which was returned due to the ongoing litigation.

The shortlisted candidates included three educationists – Assistant Professor at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Noreen Ayaz, Adviser of Engineering Development Board and Assistant Professor at Pide, Dr Shahid Razzaque and Associate Professor and Dean of Health Services Academy, Dr Tariq Mehmood. The post of DG FDE is an MP-11 position – equavelant to BPS 21.

In past, it was a grade 20 position. Some years ago, new rules were approved, allowing the government to appoint anyone from the private sector based on merit.

“The FDE is the main organisation of the education ministry as it deals with Islamabad’s school and college education. Therefore, someone with vast experience should be appointed,” said an official of FDE. He added that running this office on an ad-hoc basis for the last two years raised question marks.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2025