Controversy arises over eligibility criteria for top FDE vacancy

Islamabad: The principals of Islamabad's many government schools and colleges have raised questions about the eligibility criteria advertised by the federal education ministry for the vacancy of director general (BPS-21) at the Federal Directorate of Education, insisting that they're left out of the race for the top administrative post at the education watchdog despite being fully qualified.

The position, which was recently advertised in the country's leading newspapers, stipulated strict prerequisites, drawing criticism over its "narrow scope." Only candidates with a Master's from a Higher Education Commission-recognised university in fields like finance, management, public policy, and law, and the minimum experience of 20 years in the relevant domains will be eligible for the position, according to the advertisement. Also, at least five years of senior management experience or three years of heading a public or private sector organisation are required. This eligibility criteria has troubled professors with extensive experience in teaching and managing educational institutions, especially school and college principals.

They say they feel really bad about their exclusion from the job race despite their decades-long, acknowledged contributions to the cause of formal education in the federal capital. "Many like me have profound knowledge and experience of educational management and institutional administration, but even then, the ministry has unfairly denied us the right to run for the top FDE vacancy by setting certain eligibility criteria," a senior college professor told 'The News'.