ISLAMABAD: Amid concerns that schools in rural areas are lagging behind schools in urban areas in terms of infrastructure and availability of teachers, the education ministry and the Federal Directorate of Education swung into action and visited some schools in rural areas on Sunday, vowing to take steps for their improvement.

Recently, a subcommittee of parliament visited six schools in Bhara Kahu and pointed out many deficiencies. The committee members, including Islamabad MNAs Raja Khurram Nawaz and Anjum Aqeel Khan, had urged the ministry to look into the issue.

Before the visit, MNA Nawaz in a standing committee pleaded the case of schools in rural areas, saying these schools had been facing a shortage of basic facilities as well as teachers.

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Education Joint Secretary Syed Junaid Akhlaq, who also holds acting charge of the FDE director general, along with senior officials visited six schools in Bhara Kahu on Sunday.

The delegation included the Bhara Kahu area education officer (AEO), director (planning & development), and director (coordination). A project director of an ongoing scheme, under which the FDE is upgrading schools and colleges besides providing new facilities, was also part of the visiting delegation.

DG says 80 schools in rural areas to be upgraded, new teachers to be recruited

When contacted, Education Joint Secretary Syed Junaid Akhlaq said the construction of boundary walls of two schools, Phulgran and Bobri, had been started.

“I don’t agree with this impression that we are not focusing on rural areas. 50 IT labs are being established in rural areas schools while these schools will also have solarised systems. Similarly, under the ongoing mega project we will upgrade/facelift around 80 schools in rural areas besides providing them with all the missing facilities,” he added.

The official said under the ongoing project, 48 schools in urban areas were getting a makeover which was the reason people started thinking that the FDE’s focus was on urban areas. “…this is not a factual position, under the ongoing project we are going to do facelift work, besides providing missing facilities in around 80 rural schools,” he said, adding that once the work in rural areas was completed, there would be equity in both urban and rural areas schools.

The joint secretary claimed the now focus has been shifted to rural areas, adding that the FDE would also recruit new teachers.

Comprehensive plan

According to an official statement issued by the FDE, the DG announced a comprehensive plan for urgent repairs, committing to complete the restoration work within 10 days. This plan includes whitewashing all institutions, electrification, washroom repairs, and the repair of window panes.

“These efforts are in line with earlier inspections by parliamentarians, reflecting the government’s focused approach to uplifting rural educational institutions.”

The statement said that specific tasks were assigned to the project director, including the establishment of a computer lab with 40 computers at the Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) Maira Begwal, construction of a boundary wall at the Islamabad Model School for Boys (IMSB) Phulgran, and the establishment of a library at Islamabad Model School for Girls (IMSG) Phulgran.

“To ensure accountability and sustained progress, the DG mandated that area education officers (AEOs) conduct regular weekly visits to schools. He also announced that inventive programmes for rural teachers were under consideration, aiming to improve teacher retention and motivation in these areas. FDE officials will be stationed at the six visited schools to oversee the repair work,” read the statement.

DG Akhlaq also stressed the importance of community engagement in supporting the development of local schools and urged school staff to ensure full attendance and active participation in these initiatives. “This visit underscores the government’s commitment to providing quality education in Islamabad’s rural areas, ensuring that students have access to safe, well-equipped, and equitable learning environments,” it said.

An official said this was good that focus was being paid to all six schools, which were visited by the sub-committee recently. He added that with the same zeal, the education ministry and FDE should visit all rural areas schools and provide facilities wherever needed.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2024