KARACHI, Dec 3: The written test for candidates aspiring for a three-year contract appointment at government colleges would be held on December 14 at four centres in the province.

In response to its advertisement, the Sindh Education Department, through district education officers, has received about 16,000 applications against 752 vacant posts of lecturers for English, Commerce, Computer Science, Chemistry, Pakistan Studies, Physics and Mathematics.

Candidates short-listed after written tests would be required to appear before a panel constituted by the education department for interviews. Officials from the Sindh Public Service Commission would also be involved in the interview committee, said a source in the education department.

Admit cards for tests, which are under preparation, would be sent to candidates on their given addresses by mail latest by December 10. In case candidates do not receive the cards by given dates, they should contact the respective EDO education, according to the source.

The test would be conducted by a business college at four centres planned at the National Sports Coaching Centre, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi, Public School Hyderabad and Public School and Municipal Stadium at Sukkur. In the wake of increased number of applicants, tests for male and female candidates would be held at two separate places.

As many as 3,750 candidates are likely to take the test at Karachi, and about 5000 at Hyderabad. At Sukkur about 2000 females and 5000 males are likely to appear.

The 90-minute test would start at 11am, but candidates are being advised to report at the centres latest by 9am, said an official of the education department.

Those selected after the two-phase recruitment process would be entitled to get salary and other perks equivalent to those of permanent lecturers. The adhoc lecturers were being appointed, ignoring the set process of the Sindh Public Service Commission, only to overcome the acute shortage of teachers at different colleges in the province, maintained the official.