The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT) has permanently abolished 310 non-teaching positions across Islamabad’s schools and colleges in a sweeping administrative overhaul aimed at streamlining operations. The move follows a federal cabinet directive issued last year and targets posts that had remained unfilled for extended periods.
According to an official notification, 493 non-teaching vacancies existed across institutions overseen by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE). The abolished posts include guards, maids, steno-typists, plumbers, mechanics, sweepers, and gardeners. Officials said these roles had remained vacant for years, prompting the ministry to classify them as redundant.
Justifying the decision, ministry representatives stated that eliminating long-vacant positions would enhance administrative efficiency and align staffing structures with current operational needs. The FDE manages more than 450 federal government schools and colleges in the capital.
The move, however, has sparked criticism within the FDE. An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, argued that both the ministry and FDE leadership were responsible for the situation due to years of stalled recruitment. The official noted that the number of educational institutions in Islamabad continues to grow, yet non-teaching staff strength is shrinking. “The issue is not with the posts but with the failure to fill them,” the official said.
Education experts and staff associations have also warned that cutting essential support roles could undermine school maintenance, campus upkeep, and daily logistics, potentially affecting overall learning environments.
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While the abolished positions will not be reinstated in the near future, officials indicated that a revised staffing structure may be explored under upcoming education sector reforms.