PESHAWAR: The elementary and secondary education department on Sunday cancelled the screening test for the recruitment of primary schoolteachers in 12 districts after the paper was leaked.

The test was conducted by the National Testing Service.

“I have ordered an inquiry into the paper leak before the start of the screening test,” secretary education Arshed Khan told Dawn.

In Battagram, some of the students appearing in the test said that the paper was leaked before the start and circulated on social media.

They said that some candidates paid bribes to the NTS staff to have the paper leaked, and solved the questions. They said some candidates were also allowed to take their mobile phones inside the examination halls.

The NTS screening test was held in government centennial model high school, Battagram, and government degree college for boys, Battagram.

The students asked the government to ensure free and fair conduct of the screening test.

Meanwhile, in Shangla, a large number of candidates gathered at the Alpuri Chowk to protest the paper leak. They demanded of the government to award strict punishment to the officials involved in the paper leak.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2019