KARACHI, July 17: Despite a lapse of about three months, the Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi, is unable to introduce a revised remuneration structure for its invigilators.

During a meeting held on April 28, the Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad had ordered a 100 per cent increase in the remuneration of invigilators at examination centres of the BIE, Karachi.

Under the directives, college teachers of Karachi are due to get Rs300, instead of Rs150, for invigilation of one shift of intermediate class examinations.

On the demands of college teachers’ body, the governor on June 12 had clarified that the decision regarding the increase in the examination taken earlier was for all the educational boards of the province and as such the increase of 100 per cent would be implemented uniformly for every examination in future.

According to sources in the educational boards, none of the boards had taken meaningful steps for the realization of the instruction for increment. Chairmen of different boards had been discussing the matter, but were not getting the heart to adopt the new rates, said a source, adding that no reflection was seen in the annual budget passed by the boards mostly in June last.

In its last meeting the BIEK, among other items on agenda, also debated the order to increase in remunerations and related financial implications, but remained indecisive. The meeting of the board was attended by chairmen of some other boards as well.

Some of the members found it difficult to debate on the issue in the absence of a written order from the Sindh governor, the controlling authority of educational boards in the province.

It was said that had the minutes of the meeting of April 28 or June 21 been issued by the Governor’s House it could provide a base for the members to take up the matter, said a participant of the BIEK meeting.

However, a couple of members were of the view that as the chairman of the Intermediate Board Karachi, who was present in the meeting of April 28, had got all reasons to move for the implementation of the remuneration enhancement order.

It was learnt that the BIEK would have to pay additional Rs15 million to college teachers alone for invigilation. If, somehow, the BIEK managed to pay the invigilators, there would be left many staff senior to invigilators, including centre superintendents and factotums, who would demand for a payment higher than the invigilators, said a BIEK official, adding that demands for increase in charges against script assessment could also be not ruled out.

To avoid the complexities, according to a source, the BIEK meeting resolved that the matter be referred to the joint body of chairmen of all educational boards of Sindh, Committee of Chairmen (COC), for the sake of guidance and uniformity.

The COC should also be asked to request the Sindh governor to suggest means to meet out the financial implications which are due to take place in the case of 100 per cent increase in examination remunerations, said another source.

It was learnt that the BIEK and other boards wanted equal increase in the remuneration of all examinations staff, but were failing to generate resources for the purpose. Even re-appropriation of heads in approved budget of the board will not work, it was viewed.

The only way to meet the shortage of fund was a 100 per cent increase in the examination fees charged from the students or grant of funds from the government.

If the funds are not made available to the board they would have to go for substantial increase in the fees, which would cause anguish among the students and parents and ultimately would not be likened by the political government as well, noted a senior academician.