THE Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) had invited in February applications for the vacant positions of assistant curator/field officer (BPS-16) in the culture department, among others.

The eligibility criterion set for the aforementioned posts was master’s degree in anthropology/archaeology/sociology or classical languages, with a postgraduate diploma in museology or archeaology.

Many candidates, including myself, fulfilling the required criterion applied for the aforementioned posts and began to wait for the response from the SPSC. But after six months of wait, the anthropology and archaeology graduate candidates unexpectedly have received the rejection letters from the SPSC, informing us that we have failed to submit required documents, i.e., diploma in archaeology/museology within the stipulated time.

First, one wonders at the eligibility criterion that a candidate who has acquired a master’s degree in anthropology and archaeology has also to produce a diploma in archaeology. All over the world, one cannot find such a case which, unfortunately, we have been compelled to face. When a candidate, who has studied a subject, i.e., archaeology for four years, and undertook extensive research, why does he/she still need a diploma?

According to this measurement, an anthropology/archaeology graduate’s degree weightage is not equivalent to the person who holds BA and a diploma in archaeology.

We find this criterion discriminative and manipulative in order to keep us at a distance from such posts. It is our appeal to the SPSC to consider our concerns over the eligibility criterion for the above-mentioned posts and allow us to be eligible for the interview.

ALI TAQUI SHAH
Hyderabad