IN May 2015, the Sindh government announced 2,000 headmaster/mistress posts (BPS 17), to be filled on merit. The written test was conducted at the Sukkur IBA in December 2015. The shortlisted 1,080 candidates were asked to appear for interviews and the committee assured them that they were all selected and would be given appointment offer letters within 15 days while the government would re-advertise for the remaining 920 vacant posts.

Then the government for some twisted logic sought to disqualify some of the candidates stating that they were from the private sector. A long struggle ensued; protests were held, the media covered the issue and the aggrieved candidates filed a case in the Sindh High Court. With the appointment of a new chief minister (who declared education his priority), he ordered the department to appoint all 1,080 candidates immediately. The candidates were again called for an interview in November 2016 and assured they would receive appointment letters within 15 days. Once again this commitment was not fulfilled.

Fourteen months have passed since the written exam — including the initial application process, the prospective headmasters/mistresses have spent 20 months in limbo.

I implore the ruling party in Sindh to provide these promising young men and women their right. They have a special role to play in educating our children, who are the future of Sindh and Pakistan.

Mian Arif Ghunyo
Ghotki

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2017