ISLAMABAD: In a shocking turn of events, the Ministry of Education and the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have come under scrutiny for their alleged involvement in a multi-billion scam revolving around the transfer of valuable land meant for a government school. The incident has raised concerns about corruption and transparency within the education sector.
The controversy unfolded when it was discovered that the ministry and FDE attempted to hand over 21 kanals of land, originally designated for a government school, to a private firm for the establishment of an upscale private school. The worth of the land is estimated to be over Rs20 billion, making this a highly lucrative deal.
According to sources, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was scheduled to be signed between the FDE and the private firm. However, the signing ceremony could not take place as Secretary Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry chaired a meeting that concluded that clarification from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) was required before proceeding.
The CDA, responsible for land management and development in the capital city, has already made its stance clear. It firmly stated that the plot allocated for the construction of a government school cannot be transferred to any other party for commercial activities. The CDA spokesperson, Syed Safdar Ali, emphasized that their terms and conditions of allotment are explicit, and any violation would result in the cancellation of the plot.
It was revealed that the proposed plan involved the ministry and FDE allowing the private firm to set up an upscale private school on the government school land under the guise of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. As part of the proposal, the private firm would supposedly provide free education to 20% of the students and hand over the school to the FDE after a period of 20 years.
However, the Education Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain, was reportedly unaware of the alleged scam, with some bureaucrats within the ministry and FDE attempting to execute the land transfer without bringing it to the minister’s attention. Minister Hussain promptly took notice of the matter, seeking reports from the ministry and FDE to investigate the issue further.
The news of the attempted transfer has sparked outrage within the teaching community, as well as among school principals and non-teaching staff of FDE-run schools.
They have formed a joint action committee (JAC) to vehemently oppose the move, deeming it an anti-education step. The JAC has announced a series of protests and plans to file legal cases to block the transfer and safeguard the land for government school purposes.
The incident also raises concerns about compliance with Article 25-A of the Constitution, which mandates the provision of free and compulsory education to all schoolchildren.
Interestingly, the Ministry of Education and FDE already provide free education and books to students in all Islamabad schools from grades 1 to 10, in alignment with this constitutional provision.
As the investigation unfolds and public pressure mounts, the fate of the disputed land and those involved in the alleged scam hang in the balance. The case highlights the importance of upholding transparency, accountability, and the commitment to providing quality education for all, especially within the realm of public institutions.
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