FDE takes note of no honorarium for teachers

Teachers will not be paid more than Rs30,000 as honorarium

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Directorate of Education, Director General (DG) has taken notice of the non-inclusion of teachers in the new policy of awarding honorarium to federal educational institutions employees.

The new policy stated that the honorarium would not be given to FDE employees if their performance was not up to the mark. However, only non-teaching staff were included in the policy.

Taking notice of the matter, FDE DG Prof Dr Ikram Ali Malik ordered the inclusion of educators in the list as well. As a result, FDE Director Admin Asif Niazi issued an amended notification on Thursday.

It said that the head of the institution could also add the faculty to the list of honorarium candidates on the availability of funds. It read that the teachers will also not be paid more than Rs 30,000 as an honorarium.

Further, on the availability of funds, the Area Education Officer (AEO) may recommend the head or vice-principal of any institution for honorarium based on performance but that too will not exceed Rs 30,000.

Federal Government Teachers Association (FGTA) President Malik Amir Khan thanked the DG and said that the inclusion of teachers in the honorarium list would make them more dedicated to performing their duties and it would create a competitive environment.

The previous notification said employees on leave for more than three months will not be granted honorarium while those deployed on deputation or less than six months earlier have also been kept at bay.

Eligible employees from basic pay scale (BPS) 1 to 9 would be recommended for honorarium amounting to 100 percent basic pay but not exceeding Rs20,000. Similarly, non-teaching staff from BPS 11 to 17, will be granted allowance in the proportion of 25 percent.

The employees will either get 25 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent or 100 percent which would be subject to the honorarium based on the aforementioned criteria. The maximum threshold of the honorarium for BPS 11 to 17 employees has been set at Rs25,000.

Subject to availability of funds, the area education officer (AEO) can recommend the head of institution and vice-principal with high achievement for an amount not exceeding Rs30,000.

In the letter, the heads of institutions have been strictly directed to certify all parameters for honorarium while the recommendation sent by different educational institutions would be considered final.

It said the FDE will not give an honorarium to workers against whom disciplinary proceeds are in progress or against whom responsibility has been fixed through a fact-finding inquiry committee. Workers with irregular biometric attendance record and a casual attitude towards service would not receive an honorarium.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2021.