Our Correpondent
Islamabad
About 1,250 Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) serving in institutions under the Federal Directorate of Education were given upgradation in 2011 and the posts were redesigned as Secondary School Teachers (SSTs) have been serving in institutes under FDE without any rules of promotions have been kept in limbo. Now, instead of amendment to flawed, irrelevant and incompatible rules to deal with post-upgradation and redesignation of posts scenario, junior teachers are being promoted at the cost of Secondary School Teachers (SSTs).
In February, 2010, on a reference made by the defunct Ministry of Education, the Establishment Division approved inter-alia, the re-designation of the post of Deputy Headmaster (BPS-17) as Secondary School Teacher (BPS-17). Later, In October, 2011, on a summary moved by CADD, the Prime Minister approved upgradation and redesignation of BPS-16 teaching posts in the Islamabad model schools (VI-X) as Secondary School Teachers. This approval was notified by CADD vide Notification No. F.14-10/2011-EDU dated 14-10-2011.
The facts reveal that all deputy headmasters are now secondary school teachers and the use of designation of deputy headmaster is no more relevant. However, the designation of deputy headmasters is still being used by FDE.
In view of this situation the rules should have been amended but the process was delayed by FDE and CADD giving rise to tensions and rifts among the re-designated SSTs and the most junior TGTs. The delay has also been affecting the working of teachers who are struggling for their due rights and survival.
The SSTs never got vertical mobility, regular promotion except upgradation. In the present promotion scenario the TGTs after getting promotion as ex-deputy headmasters (if done so without amendment in rules) will become senior to SSTs. It will also deprive the SSTs being senior teachers from their basic service right of promotion to the posts of vice-principal. By doing so, FDE will be putting the cart before the horse because through this promotion the feeding cadre (TGTs) will become the leading cadre of SSTs. Owing to the lack of rules, SSTs fear they may retire in the same cadre.
Now it has been learnt that the promotion of TGTs is due while SSTs fate is still hanging in the balance. So any kind of promotion without amendment to rules would compel the affected teachers to resort to an endless litigation process.
Facts and figures speak the volume of the gravity of the seriousness of the matter and reveal that this situation has arisen due to the negligence and incompetence of the officers working in FDE and CADD. In FDE, Director Schools is responsible to prepare, proceed and plead the case, in CADD & Est. Division, in free and fair manner but he has failed to do so.
Director Admn. is also being held equally responsible for overlooking such an important matter due to the reasons best known to him. The principals, vice principals and deputy headmasters appointed in FDE and CADD on attachment/deputation basis are also the main handicap as they benefitted themselves by violating the promotion quota at the cost of junior teachers, working in schools, by misusing their positions and misleading the superiors.
They have created such a mess that this issue has led to multi-pronged conflict of interests and rifts between SSTs and the TGTs. Resultantly this situation has adversely affected the working environment, academic activities and students.
It is worth mentioning that for what the teachers, especially SSTs working under FDE are striving/struggling has already been done by Federal Government Educational Institutions (Cantonment and Garrisons) Directorate by implementing the PM’s directive regarding change of nomenclature and up-gradation of posts, in letter and spirit as all incumbents (VPs /Assistant Headmasters/ Assistant Headmistresses) have been redesignated as SSTs and their Combined Seniority List has been notified as SSTs. Their promotions are also in process / being given accordingly.
Now, after the lapse of six years, the plenary amended draft of recruitment rules was forwarded for approval by FDE to CADD on 17-11-2016. Before the approval of amended rules, any kind of promotion excluding SSTs would compel the affected teachers to resort to endless litigation process. Therefore the aggrieved teachers are of the view that the administration should amend the existing rules in accordance with redesignation and upgradation of posts, especially SSTs.
They urged the minister of CADD, Dr Tariq Fazal Choudhry, and the competent authority to take up the matter personally and direct the relevant quarters to approve the amended rules, cancel the DPC of TGTs as deputy headmasters till the approval of the rules and place fresh incumbents of deputy headmasters as SSTs. They also urged that the promotion channel for SSTs be unblocked and they may be promoted as vice-principals, according to their seniority.
