Four-Year Delay: Teachers Demand Exam Duty Payments from FDE

Female teachers working in government schools and colleges in Islamabad have raised serious concerns over non-payment for examination and paper marking duties they performed over the last four years. Despite multiple assurances from the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), the teachers claim they have not received a single rupee, including the meagre Rs150 per day honorarium promised for their work.

Speaking to The News, the teachers described the situation as deeply unfair and financially burdensome, especially amid rising inflation. Those assigned to centralized primary and middle school exams by the FDE said they have had to cover additional costs out of pocket, with no reimbursement provided for essential items or transportation.

One teacher from IMCB I-8/3 revealed he spent around Rs3,000 daily on taxi fares for transporting exam materials—an expense incurred for 15 days every year—without ever being compensated. “Given the current inflation, this is a heavy burden. The FDE hasn’t paid me a single rupee,” he said.

Teachers highlighted that the Rs150 daily rate is less than the cost of a single meal in Islamabad and doesn’t come close to covering even basic expenses. They said duties such as invigilation, marking, paper collection, and packaging often require them to purchase items like sealing wax, thread, and packing cloth from their own pockets.

“I marked answer sheets for the centralized Class VIII exams but got nothing in return,” said another teacher. “No transport, no materials, and now no payment—this is how the FDE operates.”

Despite numerous complaints, the FDE’s Academic Cell has reportedly failed to take any action. Teachers accuse officials of making empty promises while continuing to neglect their legitimate demands.

They are now urging Education Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani to personally intervene and ensure that their long-overdue payments are released without further delay.

“We are demanding justice,” one teacher stated. “If the government expects us to work with integrity, it must at least honor its commitments, no matter how small the amount.”

Another educator described the Rs150 rate as not only grossly inadequate but also insulting. She argued that in the current economic climate, this amount was not just insufficient—it was outright exploitative.

The teachers emphasized that this issue is not simply about money, but about recognition, fairness, and respect for the hard work of educators, without whom the education system cannot function.