PHOTO: FILE
At the start of the academic year, Faisalabad district was number nine, out of a total of 36 districts in the province, in terms of education during the first quarter. In the second quarter, it fell to number 10. However, the ranking improved in the third quarter to number six. In the fourth quarter, the district’s ranking fell drastically to 29.
This unprecedented fall in the education ranking has led many to believe that the Faisalabad education authority has failed in its mission to provide quality education to children residing in the district. In addition, it has also raised questions about the performance of district education officers and other officials.
Data shows that there are 61 higher secondary schools, 461 high schools, 479 middle schools and 1,318 primary schools in the district catering to 908,500 students. Further, as many as 230,005 teachers and school heads are performing duties in the district.
Moreover, the School Education Department has prescribed at least 14 indicators to evaluate the performance of school heads and teachers. The system monitors teachers’ performance, students’ attendance, missing facilities, utilisation of funds, free textbooks and functioning of school facilities, among other things.
Sources from the education department stated that the district education authority has failed to maintain all these indicators, causing the district to suffer such a massive loss in the quarterly ranking. District education officers have failed to ensure the presence of teachers and students and failed to maintain cleanliness.
Sanitation problems in schools also caused the district to lose points, sources claimed. They added that all other indicators were also not up to the mark. Sources maintained that the Faisalabad education authority chairman and the education CEO did not pay proper attention to the directions issued by the SED
On the other hand, school teachers claimed that they are trying their best to ensure that all indicators are fulfilled. Speaking to The Express Tribune Principal Abdul Sattar Tahi said that teachers are trying their best to enhance the quality of education at institutions in the district.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer Ali Ahmed Sian stated that the PMIU report found discrepancies in sanitation, attendance and the literacy numeracy test. That is the reason the district came in 29 in this quarter’s ranking. “A meeting has been called to address all these issues,” he maintained.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2019.
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