PESHAWAR: A controversy has surfaced between the government schoolteachers and administration of Peshawar Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education over removal of superintendents by the latter for allowing cheating in two examination halls established at a private school.

A team of BISE Peshawar, led by its chairman Dr Mohammad Shafi Afridi, raided on Friday two examination centres established at the Institute of Computer and Management Sciences for Boys Hayatabad to supervise the ongoing matriculation examination, according to officials.

They said that the raiding team also replaced the superintendents of both the examination halls for allowing cheating and disorder.

The teachers of the government schools under the banner of All Teachers Coordination Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reacted to the act and supported the removed superintendents, are also teachers.

On the very next day of the incident, the teachers issued a press release to the media, condemning the officials of BISE Peshawar and showing resentment over stopping their colleagues from performing duties in the examinations.

On Sunday, the teachers held a press conference at Peshawar Press Club and claimed that both the superintendents were honest and well-reputed teachers.

Teachers insist superintendents replaced after BISE raids are honest

They said that BISE Peshawar officials replaced the superintendents without any reasons owing to which their professional image was damaged.

In reaction to their removal, the teachers said that their colleagues boycotted all sorts of examination duties.

They added that they also recoded protest with the education board over injustice with them.

The teachers also demanded of the government to award them promotion, hold teachers’ election, inquire into embezzlement of funds at Elementary Education Foundation and restore teachers’ son quota etc.

BISE Peshawar Chairman Dr Mohammad Shafi, when contacted, said that both the superintendents were removed from duty to ensure cheating-free examinations.

One of them, the chairman said, was not part of the online draw for deployment of teachers as invigilators being conducted prior to commencing the examination rather he somehow managed to deploy himself in the examination centre.

Mr Safi said that the same superintendent had also brought his official peon from the respective school and was performing duty as invigilator in the examination centre.

“What the students will feel when an illiterate poem becomes their invigilator,” he questioned. He said that some teachers were against the reforms in the board and examination system.

“I respect teachers because I am also a teacher but black sheep among them would not be spared even if they belong to my community,” said Mr Safi.

Sources in the board said that usually invigilators were deployed in the examination centres with 1:40 ratio to ensure cheating-free atmosphere.

However, eight invigilators were deployed at the examination centres for 160 students which was double of the prescribe ratio, they said. Despite that students were cheating and making noise in the hall, they added.

“A group of teachers every year earns huge amount by allowing cheating in the matriculation and intermediate examinations particularly in the private schools with the help of BISE officials,” sources said. They added that such teachers also managed their deployment at the examination centres as invigilators or superintendents through different tactics.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2016