Rawalpindi DEOs in hot water over poor FA, FSc results

Summoned to Lahore with written explanations

RAWALPINDI: After a string of poor results in the annual Federal Arts (FA) and Federal Science (FSc) examinations for 2019, the provincial education ministry has decided to issue show-cause notices to the district education officers of 17 districts in the province including four districts in the Rawalpindi division.

These officials have been told to report to Lahore with written replies to their notices.

Following the poor result of students in the annual exams the district education officers (DEOs) of Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Okara, Khanewal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Khushab, Narowal, Toba Tek Singh, Lodhran, and Sargodha, have been issued notices.

The DEOs, in their responses, will have to satisfy the competent authority on why such a large number of students in the government higher secondary schools displayed dismal performance in the examinations.

Failing to do so, these DEOs could face stringent action under Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline, and Accountability (PEEDA) Act.

Refurbishing schools

With schools in the province on their annual winter break, the ministry of education has directed schools across the district to utilize this time to refurbish school buildings and upgrade their security systems.

Winter vacations in schools across Punjab are set to commence from Monday, December 23. They will continue for nearly a fortnight, culminating on January 5, 2020.

In this regard, the education ministry has directed heads of all schools to upgrade the security system as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) before the end of the winter vacations.

The government, though, has bound schools to use money from their non-salary budget to clean washrooms and water tanks, treat damp and walls with seepage or other water damage. Moreover, schools have been told to repair their infrastructure, fix burnt out bulbs and lights and other key fixtures.

The heads of educational institutions have been further directed to maintain records and receipts of all expenses incurred while the teaching and non-teaching staff has been instructed to mark their presence in the schools during this period.

Rationalisation to begin today

As schools across the province go on their annual winter break, the provincial education department has decided to use this time to transfer teachers under all categories across Punjab as per their rationalisation policy.

The policy will come into effect from Monday, December 23.

The process will continue until January 5, 2020, when schools are due to resume after the winter vacations.

Subsequently, the process for appointing surplus teachers is expected to be completed by January 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2019.