Pakistan

Plans to start nursery classes in FDE schools hit snags

There are no specialised teachers in the public sector to teach children as young as two-and-a-half year old

Zafar Ali Sipra September 21, 2017

There are no specialised teachers in the public sector to teach children as young as two-and-a-half year old. PHOTO: AFP.

ISLAMABAD: Plans to start pre-primary classes at schools of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have run into problems even before the programme could properly take off.

According to sources, there were no specialised teachers in the public sector to teach children as young as two-and-a-half year old. Similarly, women public schools also lack attendants (ayas) for taking children to the washroom.

Teachers hired for the Capital Administration and Development Department (CADD) project have left after completing their year-long contracts at the end of the 2016-17 academic session, sources added.

Presently, primary school teachers were losing their patience trying to handle children at nursery classes, and tending to them, sources said. When asked for comments, CADD Adviser Ali Raza said the situation will improve once teachers are hired for nursery classes.

“Without hiring new teachers, the problems faced in starting pre-primary classes and playschools will not be resolved,” Ali said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2017.