CADD set to take control of federal board, book foundation

Steps aimed to streamline capital’s scattered education setup

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), which was on the brink of abolition only a few months ago, is now making a turnaround by taking civic and education bodies under its cover.

Administrative control of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) was given to the division last week, and it is now set to take the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), National Book Foundation (NBF) as well as the Academy of Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM) under its umbrella.

With these steps, the government has not only brought related but scattered departments under one head, but has also entrusted the newly-appointed minister with powers to hold sway in the capital.

Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, the PML-N National Assembly representative from Islamabad, was recently appointed minister of state for CADD.

It is interesting to note that the division was thrice poised to be abolished, last in April this year when the cabinet committee on restructuring federal ministries and divisions recommended winding up the CADD. The committee also suggested transferring education subjects to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.

Currently, the FBISE and NBF are working under the ministry of education but are closely related to CADD’s Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), which runs the public education in the capital. The directorate earlier had to approach the ministry of federal education to resolve issues concerning school curriculum and examinations. This process will now be more direct and easy since both the departments would be under CADD, it is believed.

Chaudhry had also announced on Friday to launch a one-year action plan for the capital after approval of the prime minister.

Similarly, NBF publishes books for education institutes of the capital and timely supply of books has been a recurring issue for FDE.

Overall, the decisions seem encouraging for the fractured education setup of the capital but some have termed these quick fixes mere cosmetic measures.

HEC’s ‘helplessness’

Moreover, last week, members of the Senate Standing Committee on Education expressed surprise over the Higher Education Commission (HEC)’s inability to take action against higher education institutions flouting quality standards.

HEC Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed had told the committee that they could only publish alerts and lists of approved campuses and programmes. He said the commission had no legal authority to take action against universities and campuses violating regulations.

Ahmed was told to submit recommendations on ways to implement HEC criteria to the committee.

The HEC is also formulating a database of higher education sector which will have complete record of enrolled students, departments, faculty and all other details.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th,  2015.