FDE teachers struggle with scarce funds

Teachers and non-teaching staff working in various schools and colleges under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) are facing dire circumstances due to the continuous lack of sufficient annual budget allocation for the rental ceiling.

For three consecutive fiscal years, authorities at FDE have failed to secure adequate funding, leading to a substantial backlog of unpaid rent. As a result, the owners of houses are threatening eviction of teachers and staff, causing immense stress.

This insufficient budget allocation has left the teachers struggling to meet their rent obligations, jeopardizing their living conditions, and their ability to focus on delivering quality education in the classroom.

Iftikhar Ahmed, a retired professor from Islamabad Model College of Commerce H-8/4, said, “I have retired from government service, and my department did not clear my pending rental ceiling of 19 months. I am running pillar to post to get my pending dues but to no avail.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2023.