May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

PESHAWAR, May 21: In sheer violation of the decision taken by the disciplinary committee of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) which disqualified him permanently for any such post, the NWFP government has appointed a higher secondary school principal as secretary of BISE Peshawar.

“The disciplinary committee of BISE Peshawar on November 10, 1990 had declared 74 school and college teachers disqualified permanently for holding any slot at the board for their unwanted conduct shown during the examination,” reliable sources said.

According to these sources, Government Higher Secondary School No 3, Peshawar, principal Islamuddin, who was a subject specialist that time, was ranked No 20 in the list of teachers barred permanently from holding any position at BISE. But the same person was appointed as BISE secretary by flouting rules and regulations, sources added.

The order number Authority 7918/SSC/Exam/BISE Peshawar issued by disciplinary committee, which oversees the performance of teachers and board’s staff during the examination, had recommended to the then chairman to disqualify 74 persons, including Islamuddin from holding any appointment at the board.

Sources said that the committee had so far taken action against 256 teachers from different schools and colleges of NWFP and Fata for showing ‘unwanted conduct’ during examinations in its recommendations from time to time since 1990. Some of these teachers had been barred from holding positions in BISE or working as examiners under the board for one to 10 years as penalty, but some have been declared permanently incapacitated to hold any position.

NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had issued a directive to the School and Literacy Department to appoint Alamzeb, a BPS-19 officer, as secretary of BISE, from a panel of three aspirants for the slot. The directives issued on April 12 said that Mr Alamzeb presently working as director research and evaluation at BISE, might be transferred and posted as secretary of the board against the vacant post. It said that no summary was required in the case.

“It is therefore requested to take necessary action as desired by the chief minister under intimation to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat,” said sources, adding that the School and Literacy Department dragged its feet on the order and didn’t bother to inform the Chief Minister secretariat.

Instead of issuing directives to appoint Mr Alamzeb according to chief minister’s directives, the School and Literacy Department sent the same to a committee headed by additional chief secretary to prescribe criteria for deputation, appointment and transfer on vital posts, which sent the case to the chief minister.

“Two ANP MPAs who worked overnight to appoint Mr Islamuddin as secretary of the board, got it approved from the chief minister and signed it from Education and Literacy Department Secretary,” sources added. They said that the MMA government had appointed chairman, secretary and controller of examination at BISE on deputation from colleges, which had created heartburn among the senior officials of the board.

After the formation of ANP-led coalition government in the province, board officials hoped that it would make appointments on merit, sources said. According to BISE’s calendar, the qualified officials would be promoted to high-rank vacant posts and services of outside officials be obtained on deputation only when qualified persons aren’t available at the board.

“But again, a person, who also stands ineligible, has been appointed as BISE secretary despite the presence of qualified officials,” sources added.

They said that new secretary would replace Jamshed Ali Khan, whose three-year tenure was expired on January 20. Khan was appointed as BISE secretary on deputation from a college, they said, adding that the newly-appointed secretary was a school principal and any person from school cadre was not eligible for appointment at the board.