Sindh likely to adjust 10,000 teachers after re-test, interviews

In a major breakthrough and to avoid large-scale public wrath against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Sindh government is likely to go-ahead with the appointment of at least 10,000 teachers’ after their re-appearance in a written test and interviews, Pakistan Today has learnt.
“I do not consider the appointments of at least 10,000 teachers as being part of the education department’s , however a new mechanism is being chalked out to re-conduct the written test and interviews of those appointed allegedly by the nepotism of education directors, deputy directors and some other officials”, Sindh Secretary Education Dr Fazalullah Pechuho told Pakistan Today.
These large-scale appointments were made by the officials without prior permission of the education department and these were all extra appointments as the sanctioned strength for the teachers were very small, the secretary added.
The sources said the Sindh Education Department had announced to recruit more than 1, 300 SLTs in BPS-9, 14 and 15 with a condition that the candidate must have studied Sindhi as compulsory subject throughout his/her education from institutions of the metropolis. Besides, another major condition was a Karachi-domicile. However, the set conditions were changed as 98 percent of the candidates did not belong to Karachi, were issued offers letters.
The written test for the candidates was held at Safia Khanum Memorial School near Gurumandir for females and boys at Government Boys and Girls School Moosmiyat in March 2012. Meanwhile, tthe interviews were conducted in April 2012. However, the process was halted completely over the difference of appointment procedure between the then chief minister Qaim Ali Shah and education minister Pir Mazhar.
After the documents of the candidates were verified, it was found that 300 offer letters for SLTs were issued to non-eligible candidates in exchange of cash and the majority of them belonged to Urdu and Baloch-speaking people. It was also disclosed that a majority of these candidates were over-aged and held fakes degrees, the sources added.
With all these developments, the Sindh government had appointed Dr Fazaullah Pechuho, brother-in-law of President Asif Zardari, as Secretary Education who forwarded a letter to the Sindh accountant general requesting them not to release salaries of the SLTs until the secretary’s office verified the candidates.
A senior official at AG Sindh office, requesting anonymity, told Pakistan Today that more than 2, 000 SLTs had joined their duties, however, the education department was not endorsing these appointments, as a result of which the salaries could not released.