Brilliant students at the mercy of FDE, FBISE

The controversy between Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is set to hamper future prospects of brilliant students, as outstanding students, who passed exams last year, have not received scholarships so far, it has been learnt. Two hundred students, who passed scholarship exams of 8th class, are still waiting for the money, as neither the FBISE nor the FDE is ready to take the responsibility. Previously, the FDE has always been the sole authority to conduct scholarship examination of 8th class; however, the FBISE conducted the scholarship examination last year for students of the FDE-run schools.
After conducting scholarship exams, the FBISE asked FDE to pay scholarship money to 200 successful students; however, the FDE did not comply. Talking to Pakistan Today, FDE Director General Atif Kayani on Wednesday said since scholarship exams were conducted by FBISE, so it was its responsibility to disburse the amount. On the other hand, FBISE Chairperson Shaheen Khan said being an authority to conduct exams, the FBISE was not mandated to pay the scholarships. “I realise students’ suffering, but I can’t do any thing as the FDE is given funds for scholarships,” said Shaheen. In 2010, when FBISE chairperson was enjoying the additional charge of DG FDE, she put the scholarship examination under FBISE domain.
FDE Director General Atif Kayani said the FBISE had no authority to conduct scholarships exams. “According to the FBISE Act 1975 (as passed by the Parliament), the FBISE cannot not conduct examinations for 8th class. It can only hold matriculation and intermediate exams,” said Kayani.
He said the FBISE would have to go the Parliament for any amendments if it wanted to indulge in the exercise. But the FBISE Chairperson says the FBISE is authorised to do so. The FDE and FBISE have completed their preparation for conducting scholarship exam for year 2012. “We are all set to conduct exams and have forwarded the request to Professional and Technical Education Ministry for holding scholarship exams for year 2012,” said the FBISE chairperson. On the other hand, the FDE chief says they will hold conduct exams at every cost, adding that they have moved a summary to the Capital Administration and Development Division (CAAD) secretary to give the mandate back to the FDE. “All the government schools in the city come under the domain of FDE and it is our mandate to hold scholarship examination,” Kayani added. The FDE has already issued, according to which, the exams for scholarship for 8th class started from February 16. The schedule is available on the FDE website.
The issue has always remained a burning issue; however, it was only in last year that the FBISE held the exams for the first time. That was done only after an announcement made by the then education minister Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali.
A notification in that regard was issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on December 22, 2010, in which it was stated: “The examination of class eighth for scholarships only shall henceforth be conducted by the FBISE.”
There are usually around 2,500 to 3,000 students take appear in the exams every year.
Before its devolution to provinces under 18th Amendment, the Education Ministry was running the affairs of both the FBISE and the FDE. For now, the FBISE is being managed by the Ministry for Professional and Technical Training while the CAAD is looking after the FDE affairs.