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GILGIT, April 5: Mismanagement resulting in chaos marked the process of recruitment of at least 35 teachers as invigilators failed to check rampant cheating during tests on Sunday. Some of the candidates alleged that the invigilators themselves were 'actively' involved in providing opportunities of cheating to the candidates.
However, when contacted, an official of the Northern Areas Education Department refuted the allegations and said the tests were fair and transparent as the Army Monitoring Team personnel were appointed to monitor the tests. The Karakuram International University was the venue for male candidates and at F. G. Women Degree College Gilgit was the centre for female candidates.
They said over 4,000 candidates turned up on Sunday for 35 seats of teachers in grade 7 and 9 and a rising tendency for the jobs was observed amongst the women candidates.
They revealed that majority of the candidates were absent while their proxies were reportedly found taking papers on their behalf. They said some of the invigilators allowed candidates to make grouping within the examination hall and solve the question papers with the help of one another.
"This huge turnout of candidates is an ample indicator of increasing joblessness among the educated youth of the region as there is no private sector in the region to share the jobs burden," an official said.
He said some candidates possessed higher qualifications than the required one. Some candidates demanded to hold the tests afresh as they alleged the tests on Sunday were not fair and transparent.
Some of the candidates said it was formality to hoodwink the public in the name of tests and interviews whereas the selections had already been carried out through backdoors. The tests were held in all the major cities of the Northern Areas including Skardu, Astore, Chilas, Khaplu and Gahkuch.
COMMENTS: The federal government has sought information and comments from the Northern Areas' administration on opening of the Astore-Burzul road linking the region with the occupied Kashmir.
Official sources told Dawn that the Astore-Burzul road, which passes through Burzul Pass along the Line of Control, was the only link between Gilgit and Srinagar before the partition.
But now for six months, this link remains suspended due to heavy snowfall at Burzul Pass. The route was partly abandoned as Pakistan-India hostilities along the LoC grew since the partition. The official sources said the Burzul road was the shortest route between the Northern Areas and the occupied Kashmir.
