ISLAMABAD, Nov 06 (APP):Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday directed the preparation of comprehensive proposals for restructuring Islamabad's education sector, including the establishment of an autonomous education authority, with a 60-day timeline for legislation and a transition roadmap. Chairing a meeting of the Joint Committee on ICT Education Reforms, the minister said the Prime Minister had directed the preparation of an accelerated and …
Ahsan orders comprehensive education reforms, 60-day transition roadmap
ISLAMABAD, Nov 06 (APP):Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday directed the preparation of comprehensive proposals for restructuring Islamabad’s education sector, including the establishment of an autonomous education authority, with a 60-day timeline for legislation and a transition roadmap.
Chairing a meeting of the Joint Committee on ICT Education Reforms, the minister said the Prime Minister had directed the preparation of an accelerated and actionable reform plan to improve governance and the quality of education in Islamabad.
He emphasised that the proposed autonomous education authority should have a Board of Governors (BoG) with an independent majority and a Chief Executive Officer selected on merit, supported by clearly defined functions, powers and terms of reference.
He directed the relevant authorities to prepare the required legislation and transition roadmap within 60 days, ensuring that the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) continued its operations without interruption during the transition.
The minister stressed that the proposed authority should enjoy greater administrative and operational autonomy, with a clear mandate covering all education providers across Islamabad.
He observed that despite substantial government investment and higher employee-related expenditure, public-sector schools were not delivering results commensurate with available resources.
Approximately 77 per cent of the FDE’s expenditure ceiling was employee-related, highlighting the need to improve institutional performance and ensure value for public money.
Referring to the proposed recruitment of 1,100 teachers through the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), Ahsan Iqbal called for reviewing the recruitment process and exploring a contractual hiring model to attract highly qualified and talented young professionals.
He suggested drawing lessons from Punjab’s earlier initiative of recruiting educated teachers on five-year contracts.
He also directed the authorities to examine the legal aspects of the proposed appointments and ensure provisions for local recruitment and school-based placements to prevent unnecessary transfers and keep teachers connected with the communities they serve.
Highlighting the importance of teaching quality, he said Pakistan needed to learn from international education models, particularly China’s emphasis on strong teacher-student engagement.
He stressed that reforms should prioritise equity and student welfare alongside improvements in teaching standards, curriculum and learning outcomes.
On school infrastructure, the minister directed that safe and functional buildings and facilities should be the foremost priority, followed by a costed and verified improvement plan to bring every institution up to model standards, with particular attention to rural schools and the specific needs of girls’ education.
MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz pointed out the shortage of facilities in government schools, particularly the need for additional blocks for girls.
He also highlighted the importance of a uniformed curriculum across public and private schools to reduce educational disparities and the growing social divide among students.
During a presentation, the Planning Commission informed the committee that the FDE network currently comprised 432 educational institutions, while a much larger number of private schools, including low-fee institutions, as well as informal and special education schools, were operating in Islamabad.
Ensuring quality facilities across these institutions was also a government responsibility.
The committee was informed that three working groups had been constituted following the Prime Minister’s directions and the committee’s first meeting, focusing on infrastructure, governance and academics.
The proposed reform framework covered key areas, including governance and institutional architecture; safe schools, standards and infrastructure; financing and school-level autonomy; teachers and school leadership; curriculum, pedagogy and foundational learning; assessment, data and accountability; and access, equity and student welfare, supported by an implementation and sequencing framework.
The meeting was attended by MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz, Parliamentary Secretary for Education Wajiha Qamar, Secretary Education, members of the Planning Commission’s Social Sector and Governance wings, representatives of relevant departments and senior education experts from the private sector.
The minister called for coordinated efforts by all stakeholders to translate the proposed reforms into a practical, time-bound framework aimed at improving the quality, accessibility and accountability of education in Islamabad.
