Financial constraints: Evening classes in H-8, H-9 colleges likely to be scrapped

PC-I to be prepared to construct extra classrooms at other colleges

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has directed the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to end evening classes in H-8, H-9 colleges.

The move comes at a time when colleges holding evening classes face difficulty owing to financial constraints since the abolishment of the student fund in institutions.



A notification issued by FDE in 2013 banned institutes to collect tuition fees from class I to X, citing Article 25-A of the Constitution under which the state is bound to provide free and compulsory education to children aged between five and 16.

In a meeting held before Eid, CADD Minister of State Barrister Usman Ibrahim had hinted at ending evening shifts in Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) Sector H-9 and Islamabad Model Postgraduate College (IMPC) Sector H-8. There are 479 students in IMPC H-8 and 205 in IMCB H-9, according to FDE.

The administration aimed to either shift the evening classes in the morning or merge the students with Islamabad Model Postgraduate College for Commerce H-8/4 and H-9.

Director Model Colleges Saidullah Khan and FDE Director Admin and Finance Ghulam Hussain Sohoo will visit the institutions to finalise the options to accommodate classes.

Out of the 19 institutions offering evening classes, 15 have space available for the construction of new rooms for the transferred students. Moreover, five institutions — Islamabad College for Girls F-6/2, IMCG F-6/2, IMCG F-7/4, Islamabad College for Boys, G-6/3 and IMCB F-7/3 — have also been physically verified to confirm the number of rooms required.

The minister has also directed the Public Works Department to prepare a Project Concept-I for the new construction. FDE, initially, will focus on constructing extra classes in colleges of Bhara Kahu. CADD is also considering sending the prime minister a summary for the approval of funds required for the task.

“In the long run,” the minister added, “new schools, colleges are needed in the capital because of the increasing number of students.”

Officials have also been directed to acquire the amenity plots in new sectors (G-13, G-14), announced by the Capital Development Authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2014.