Pakistan- Test for PST in KP cancelled paper leak scandal

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) PESHAWAR: After uproar from candidates over alleged leak of primary school teacher (PST) question papers on social media before the start of the paper, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has cancelled papers in 13 districts of the province.

The decision was taken by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan after inquiry into the paper leak, says a handout. It said the paper of PST posts would be held again in all the districts where the PST test was cancelled over leakage complaint within the next 15 days.

The districts where the tests are cancelled include Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Malakand, Battagram, Upper Dir, Lower Dir and Buner.

Test for PST posts was held on February 07 in different districts of KP, however, ahead of the written examination for hiring, the question paper was leaked on social media. In Peshawar, some candidates alleged that answer keys were provided to candidates before the paper, which raised a question mark on transparency. The candidates alleged that the merit was openly violated through cheating which is a huge injustice with deserving candidates. The candidates said the provincial government, which regularly claims of upholding merit, must cancel the exam and order the testing agency to hold fresh exams to ensure transparency.

The provincial inspection team and deputy commissioners of the concerned districts recommended the provincial government to cancel the test over so many complaints.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Department has given the contract of appointment of different district cadre teaching posts to NTS and it has conducted tests for the posts of senior subject teachers (SST), physical education teachers (PET), certified teachers (CT), Arabic teachers (AT), drawing masters (DM), Qari/Qaria and primary school teachers (PST).

Tests for all seats have been taken and merit lists of SST posts are also displayed. The status of the remaining teaching posts, except PST, remains clear and merit lists will be displayed gradually. However, candidates are showing concern over delay in display of merit lists.

The PST paper during the 2019 recruitment of teachers conducted under the same testing agency was also cancelled over similar complaints. The testing agency continuously insists its process is transparent and there is no truth in allegations of paper leak or provision of answer keys in advance.

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