Fullfilling demand: FDE schools, colleges get 60 buses

Drivers have been protesting non-payment of salaries by the FDE

ISLAMABAD: The authorities at Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) distributed 60 buses among various schools and colleges Tuesday which were received under the Prime Minister’s Education Reform Programme (PMERP). The current government decided to keep it a low profile event as it was initiated by the former premier Nawaz Sharif. Therefore, they did not hold any ceremony and asked the Directorate to distribute it without any formal function.

Some colleges were not happy with the criterion as the distribution seemed arbitrary and was done without considering the demand of the students.

Another major issue with these buses is that no driver and conductors have been appointed for them. It seems that mostly buses will be parked in schools due to shortage of bus drivers. Already appointed drivers have also been protesting for non-payment of salaries by the FDE.

Islamabad Model Postgraduate College Sector H-8 where all 60 buses were parked for the last two months got only one bus whereas there are over 500 applications of the students which are still pending with transport in charge.

The distribution was made on the principle of a ratio set by FDE i.e. 60% Girls and 40% Boys’ schools and colleges. The lion share of the 60 buses that was 29 buses went to Model Colleges, schools got 17 buses and F.G colleges got 14 buses. Islamabad College for Girls F-6/2 got five Islamabad College for Boys G-6/3 got three buses, Islamabad Model Postgraduate College for Girls F-7/2, Islamabad Model College for Girls F-10/2, and Islamabad Model Postgraduate College for Girls F-7/4 (Margalla) received two buses each.

Most schools and colleges received one bus only. Under PMERP, the FDE will get the remaining 70 buses in the coming month. Among all the 200 buses, schools will get 97, model colleges will get 62, F.G colleges will get 36 buses whereas six buses are out of the system (already given to Capital Development Authority and PEIRA).

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2018.