FDE imposes restrictions on visitors

People barred from bringing phones; no entry without permission of high-ups

ISLAMABAD: The new acting director general of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has barred visitors from bringing mobile phones in the office and set up a front desk to monitor the entry and exit of visitors.

FDE being the regulator for over 420 government schools and colleges in Islamabad has to deal with issues faced by the teaching and non-teaching staff, besides dealing with the complaints of students.

However, the new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have put restrictions on the entry of the employees and visitors in the office of the directorate.

Sources said that acting DG Syed Umair Javed was a joint secretary at the Ministry of Federal Education and Vocational Training and was in FDE on deputation.

Javed had directed a reception desk at FDE to monitor outsiders coming to the office premises.

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As per a notification issued by the Administration Officer Amjad Ali, the visitors can only visit FDE from 3pm to 5pm whereas they would not be allowed to carry their cell-phones into the building.

The visitors would have to deposit their original national identity card (NIC) at the reception and their entry and exit timings along with the purpose for the visit would be noted in a register.

Besides this, no visitor would be allowed entry in FDE without the approval of DG, director or deputy director.

Sources said the acting DG rarely came to FDE and if he wanted to meet the directors on a matter, he would summon them to the ministry.

The DG on deputation was unaware of the issues of the educational institutions under FDE.

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Subsequently, the Federal Government Schools Heads Association has rejected these SOPS. The association officials said that such restrictions were not enforced in any of the government’s institutions and the decision reflected authoritarianism.

They contended that the employees did not visit FDE unreasonably but to get their problems resolved.

Meanwhile, The Express Tribune made several attempts to contact FDE DG but he neither attended the call nor replied to messages. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2020.