ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have failed to implement the directives of parliamentary committees and court orders regarding the permanent induction of 73 junior lady teachers (BPS-16) and lecturers (BPS-17).
These teachers have been denied permanent service in disregard of the recommendations of the cabinet sub-committee and the now-defunct Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Ministry and the Islamabad High Court order.
Sources said that the formerly CADD Ministry on the recommendations of the cabinet sub-committee, had approved the induction of some 210 teachers for model schools and colleges in 2013, subject to medical fitness, prescribed qualifications, and verification of degrees and certificates while considering the services they had rendered to the FDE as daily-wage teachers since 2009.
Initially, the FDE issued notifications on February 18, 2013, and March 11, 2013, permanently inducting 137 teachers while deferring the remaining 73 teachers’ cases. The FDE notification had clearly stated that the pending cases of 73 teachers would be processed in a second phase.
However, some federal government (FG) teachers, who were also working on daily wages, challenged the FDE’s 2013 notification in court. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a stay order and a contempt notice issued against the FDE.
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In response, the FDE withdrew the 2013 notification on January 12, 2024, citing the court’s notice. But in November 2024, after the 137 teachers won their case, the FDE reinstated the notification and issued permanent induction orders of 137 teachers, subject to seat availability.
Despite being in the same category as their inducted colleagues, the remaining 73 teachers were left in limbo. Their case remained unresolved, despite the FDE’s prior commitment to induct them in a later phase.
After repeated delays, some of the affected teachers approached the Islamabad High Court, which directed the FDE to fully implement its 2013 notification. Despite this, the issue has dragged on for over a decade, with the 73 teachers seeking intervention from the education ministry, the courts, and parliamentary committees.
Both the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Federal Education previously instructed the education ministry and the FDE to resolve the matter immediately.
Senate Standing Committee Chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt and National Assembly Standing Committee Chairperson Dr Azimuddin Lakhvi had urged the education ministry to uphold the FDE’s previous notification and induct the teachers without further delay.
However, instead of implementing committees’ directives, Federal Education Secretary Mohyuddin Wani formed a self-appointed seven-member committee on November 27, 2024, to review the issue — further complicating the matter and confusing lawmakers.
Sources said that this committee was unnecessary since the 2013 notification already ensured these teachers’ induction and the court had issued clear directives to the FDE for their permanent appointment.
Sources also said that education ministry officials are deliberately discriminating against the 73 teachers, denying them permanent employment.
Earlier, Parliamentary Secretary for Education Farah Naz Akbar had assured lawmakers on the House floor that the issue of the 73 teachers would be resolved, and her statement is part of the official record. Yet, the matter remains unresolved, leaving the affected teachers in the lurch.
In a chat with HUM News English, Wani said, “Rules cannot be relaxed for those who were recruited without advertisement in violation of merit. The Law Ministry and Establishment Division will give their opinion if a summary is sent to the cabinet.”
When asked why the ministry had not followed or implemented the standing committees’ recommendations, Wani responded: “The committees’ directions are recommendations that must be scrutinised by the Law Ministry and Establishment Division. Direction to the ministry which has no authority to regularise illegal recruitment cannot be implemented. The recommendations have to be sent to the cabinet after seeking legal opinions from the relevant ministries.”
He further said: “committee comprising education, law and establishment division has examined the plight in accordance with law and will submit a report to the federal government and relevant committees.”
However, sources said that the remaining 73 teachers meet the ministry and FDE’s criteria and were promised due process — yet their case remains stalled.