Principal axed for refusing to grant admission against merit

FDE Director General Hasnat Qureshi denies allegation

ISLAMABAD: The removal of a principal of a model college over the issue of admissions has once again come to light the crucial issue of quality education in the federal capital. The principal was allegedly removed for refusing to grant admission to undeserving candidates, despite being pressurised.

There are 20 model colleges in the city and parents prefer to enrol their children in those due to their better education quality. While the 400 Federal government set up schools and colleges are less preferred institutions due to comparatively meagre budget, less developed infrastructure and non-qualified faculty.

Every year during admission season there are complaints from parents as those who have good connections and are in positions of power manage to enrol their children in model institutions while those who have no links send the children to the federal set up.

Lists from Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) and the Federal Directorate of Education are handed over to the principals to accommodate children from affluent backgrounds while others are refused on the pretext of merit.

Recently, Islamabad Model College for Girls Principal Aalia Durrani and a very senior professor have both been allegedly removed and a very junior principal Tasneem has been given the additional charge over admission issue.

Reportedly, Professor Durrani was pressurised to make alterations in the list of successful candidates for new admissions to in order to accommodate unsuccessful near and dear ones. On her refusal to grant admissions to undeserving candidates Prof Durrani has been removed from the position. She has been asked to report to the parent department Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) instead.

Meanwhile, a few hours later, after the issue trended on social media, an emergency meeting of the principals of 20 Model Colleges was arranged in the evening. A resolution was passed wherein the removal of Prof Durrani was condemned unanimously. They termed it another blow to merit and vowed to fight such malpractices in the model colleges of the federal capital.

One of the principals said head of institutes are respectable government officials and they should not be removed due to something as minor as admission issues and complaints of parents. The colleges established in early 80s are overburdened and cannot cater to the ever-increasing population he said adding that the government should establish such institution more.

The college holds a good reputation due to its academic excellence and officials living in the F-6 and surrounding sectors prefer to enrol their children in it. But it does not have many sections like other schools, which makes it difficult for the principals to accommodate too many students.

However  regarding Prof Durrani, according to him she has been asked to report to FDE for further posting. He added that she is presently on leave and will get a posting as soon as she joins.

Moreover, he elaborated that there were general complaints from parents about non issuance of admission forms and unsatisfactory dealing by college staff, he said. Resultantly parents had to make repeated but useless visits to college, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2018.