At model college: Principal transferred for refusing to admit ‘undeserving’ students
FDE terms transfer the result of administrative issues
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The principal of a college in the capital has been transferred, allegedly for not admitting undeserving students who did not fulfil the set criteria of merit and marks.
Education officials, however, have denied the reports, claiming that the transfer was for administrative reasons.
Professor Sharifullah Khan, a basic pay scale (BPS) grade 20 associate professor and the principal of the Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) in Sector G-11/1, had been transferred from the college on Friday after he allegedly refused to obey orders of his immediate bosses to grant admission to around five students who had fewer marks than those specified under the college's merit criteria.
In his stead, an associate professor in BPS-19 who is currently heading IMCB in Sector G-10/4 has been asked to over the charge of the college in Sector G-11/1. Prof Sharifullah was sent the other way.
According to teachers and academics in the capital’s state-run education circuit, Prof Sharifullah was allegedly being pressured to amend a list issued by the college of successful candidates granted admission. The pressure was to allegedly accommodate around four to five unsuccessful students, who were near and dear to some influentials.
These students apparently had around 400-500 marks in their matriculation while the minimum requirement listed by the college was to have at least 760 marks in their matric examinations.
When Prof Sharifullah reportedly refused to grant admissions to these undeserving students — since he did not want to ruin the future of deserving students for those who had poor grades but hailed from influential backgrounds — he was removed allegedly as a punishment, the teachers and academics claimed.
Teachers and academics in the capital condemned Prof Sharifullah’s transfer, terming it “another blow to merit”.
Some teachers pointed out the principal in a recent meeting with the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) (under which all college staff operate) secretary had pointed out crucial issues of schools and colleges, including the lack of foresightedness of concerned officials, training facilities for teachers, dearth of teachers and the lack of new appointments.
Some teachers believe that his candid expression of views may have annoyed some in the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), which directly manages government schools and colleges in the city. Hence, he was being sidelined or punished.
The directorate, though, has dismissed the allegations of mala fide made by educators in the city.
“There is no admission issue,” FDE Director General Hasnat Qureshi told The Express Tribune when approached for his comment.
“He [Prof Sharifullah] has been transferred for administrative reasons,” he stated categorically.
Qureshi, though, did not elaborate on the administrative reasons he mentioned.
Prof Sharifullah, though, is not the first principal of a government college to be reassigned in recent months. Earlier In May this year, when admissions for primary sections were underway at the Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG), its principal Aalia Durrani was allegedly removed over an issue relating to admissions.
At that time, it was alleged that Durrani had been removed for reportedly refused to grant admission to some undeserving candidates.
There are 20 model colleges in the city. They are amongst the best performing government-run educational institutions in the country and hence parents prefer to enrol their children in those.
The 400 federal government schools and colleges in the capital are not as much in demand due to their comparatively meagre budgets, underdeveloped infrastructure and less-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.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2018.
The principal of a college in the capital has been transferred, allegedly for not admitting undeserving students who did not fulfil the set criteria of merit and marks.
Education officials, however, have denied the reports, claiming that the transfer was for administrative reasons.
Professor Sharifullah Khan, a basic pay scale (BPS) grade 20 associate professor and the principal of the Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) in Sector G-11/1, had been transferred from the college on Friday after he allegedly refused to obey orders of his immediate bosses to grant admission to around five students who had fewer marks than those specified under the college's merit criteria.
In his stead, an associate professor in BPS-19 who is currently heading IMCB in Sector G-10/4 has been asked to over the charge of the college in Sector G-11/1. Prof Sharifullah was sent the other way.
According to teachers and academics in the capital’s state-run education circuit, Prof Sharifullah was allegedly being pressured to amend a list issued by the college of successful candidates granted admission. The pressure was to allegedly accommodate around four to five unsuccessful students, who were near and dear to some influentials.
These students apparently had around 400-500 marks in their matriculation while the minimum requirement listed by the college was to have at least 760 marks in their matric examinations.
When Prof Sharifullah reportedly refused to grant admissions to these undeserving students — since he did not want to ruin the future of deserving students for those who had poor grades but hailed from influential backgrounds — he was removed allegedly as a punishment, the teachers and academics claimed.
Teachers and academics in the capital condemned Prof Sharifullah’s transfer, terming it “another blow to merit”.
Some teachers pointed out the principal in a recent meeting with the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) (under which all college staff operate) secretary had pointed out crucial issues of schools and colleges, including the lack of foresightedness of concerned officials, training facilities for teachers, dearth of teachers and the lack of new appointments.
Some teachers believe that his candid expression of views may have annoyed some in the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), which directly manages government schools and colleges in the city. Hence, he was being sidelined or punished.
The directorate, though, has dismissed the allegations of mala fide made by educators in the city.
“There is no admission issue,” FDE Director General Hasnat Qureshi told The Express Tribune when approached for his comment.
“He [Prof Sharifullah] has been transferred for administrative reasons,” he stated categorically.
Qureshi, though, did not elaborate on the administrative reasons he mentioned.
Prof Sharifullah, though, is not the first principal of a government college to be reassigned in recent months. Earlier In May this year, when admissions for primary sections were underway at the Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG), its principal Aalia Durrani was allegedly removed over an issue relating to admissions.
At that time, it was alleged that Durrani had been removed for reportedly refused to grant admission to some undeserving candidates.
There are 20 model colleges in the city. They are amongst the best performing government-run educational institutions in the country and hence parents prefer to enrol their children in those.
The 400 federal government schools and colleges in the capital are not as much in demand due to their comparatively meagre budgets, underdeveloped infrastructure and less-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.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2018.