ISLAMABAD: Computer lab officials working in the Federal Directorate of Education-run schools have been put in different pay slabs due to the negligence of the authorities concerned.

The FDE regularised services of 35 contractual lab in-charges in grade 7 in 2008.

In 2011, services of another batch, which was junior to the first one, were regularised in grade 12.

However, the senior batch of 35lab in-charges was not upgraded and they are still working in grade 7.

`In 2011, against the same posts and criteria, the FDE regularised services of 85 more lab in-charges in grade 12.

`But we, 35 senior lab in-charges, are still working in grade 7,` said a computer lab in-charge who wished not to be named.

Speaking to Dawn, a female computer lab in-charge said they had raised the issue with their seniors time and again but no one paid any heed.

She said lab in-charges in both batches had the same qualifications but they were being treated differently.

She said to overcome shortage of teachers, the lab in-charges were also performing teaching duties intheir respective schools.

`Most of our colleagues have BA, MA and MEd degrees. Besides looking after the lab, I have been teaching in my school for the last four years.

When contacted, Director Admin and Finance FDE Ghulam Hussain Sohoo said: `I will look into the matter to ensure that all lab in-charges are given a fair chance of promotion in accordance with rules and regulations.

Another senior official at the FDE said initially the directorate had grade 7 posts of lab in-charge but later, when the second batch was regularised, they had vacant posts of lab in-charges in grade 12.

`I have moved a summary seeking equal grades for all lab incharges,` he said.

`We demanded that senior FDEofficers should end this discrimination otherwise thousands of nonteaching staff will take to the streets against this injustice,` said Sardar Sadique, a leader of nonteaching staff at the FDE-run schools.

He said it was the responsibility of the FDE to upgrade all lab incharges.

Talking to Dawn, Shoaib Shaheen Advocate said if both batches were appointed under the same criteria, the FDE had no right to ignore the senior batch of 35 lab in-charges.

`In the year 2011 when the FDE appointed the second batch in grade 12, it was its responsibility to upgrade the first batch,` he said.

`It`s discrimination with the senior batch,` he added.