Islamabad : Despite holding a PhD in Computer Science from the Florida State University, USA, Dr Javedullah has been assigned to take Grade 7 and 8 students at Islamabad College for Boys (ICB) G-6/3.
Ignoring his exceptional academic background and international research experience, college regulator Federal Directorate of Education is wasting Dr Javedullah’s expertise on subjects that could easily be handled by ordinary educators, according to faculty members.
Ironically, several Islamabad colleges like IMCB H-9 conducting BS programmes in Computer Science are facing a severe shortage of qualified faculty.
Instead of benefiting from Dr Javedullah’s vast knowledge, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), the body responsible for managing public educational institutions in the capital, has placed him in Grade 7 and 8 classes.
According to faculty members, this case is not an isolated one but part of a broader pattern of negligence and poor planning within FDE.
The directorate, which oversees 432 public schools and colleges, has long been criticised for its "irrational postings" and "disregard for academic merit".
“FDE’s policies are mostly harmful,” said a senior teacher at ICB. “The officers sitting comfortably in their offices at FDE have little understanding of how education actually works. Their arbitrary decisions damage institutions and waste the potential of qualified teachers.”
Dr. Javedullah is reportedly one of only two PhD qualified Computer Science teachers in the entire Federal Government colleges.
“This is sheer academic mismanagement,” said another teacher. “Instead of posting highly qualified teachers like Dr. Javedullah in colleges where BS Computer Science programmes are already running, the FDE is wasting his expertise on middle school teaching. It is disrespectful to his qualifications and a loss to higher education students.”
A teacher at ICB further highlighted a growing trend of out-of-field teaching, where faculty members are routinely forced to teach subjects unrelated to their specialization. “Many of us are made to teach subjects we have never studied. For example, an associate professor of Political Science who should be teaching intermediate or BS classes was compelled to teach Ancient History to Grade 7 students in the previous academic session and is now teaching Pakistan Studies to middle classes.
Similarly, an assistant professor of Economics was forced to teach Entrepreneurship to grade -8 students and Commerce, and Logic & Critical Thinking to higher level. And now, even a PhD scholar is teaching Grade 7. This is educational chaos. It is a disorder to the absence of checks and balances by the Education Ministry, which allow the FDE’s arbitrary policies to continue unchecked."
The teachers argued that such practices not only demoralised teachers but also deteriorated the overall quality of education in public sector institutions.
“Academic qualifications and subject expertise should be the primary criteria for all teaching assignments. This case is not just about one teacher. It’s about the credibility of our education system. When PhD scholars are made to teach Grade 7 students, it shows how little value the system places on education itself,” he said.
