KASUR, Feb 10: A number of candidates for the posts of educators have protested the district administration’s decision to invite fresh applications after discarding the previous ones.

Around 15,000 candidates applied for the posts of educators (in various categories) in October last when the Kasur government invited applications. The authorities collected Rs1.5 million through the application forms.

Having discarded the entire process, the administration has once again advertised for the vacancies with the intimation that the previous applications have been cancelled.

Those who had previously applied for teachers’ posts expressed concern over the decision and accused the district government of “making it a source of income”. They said in many other districts, including Okara and Sargodha, the previous applications were being considered.

Standing in long queues outside a bank branch to get fresh forms, some of the applicants said they might face the issue of over-age for no fault of theirs. “If the government insists on the fresh process in its entirety, many (deserving) aspirants will be deprived of an opportunity in the days of joblessness.

“Each application form costs Rs100 and most of the candidates are applying for five to 10 vacancies on an average. And in case of a minor mistake, cutting or erasing in the application form, the candidate is required to submit a new form.”

Several female candidates informed this correspondent about the inconvenience they had been facing in fulfilling the requirements afresh. “First of all one has to pay fee in the bank and get a receipt on the basis of which he or she can get form from the EDO (education) office. All this process is cumbersome and time-consuming,” they said.

Among the candidates were the ones who alleged that those having certain links could easily hand over their applications to the officials concerned. They demanded that the district government review its decision and the higher authorities apply a uniform policy all over Punjab. In case of not meeting their just demands, they threatened to stage a sit-in outside the DCO office and also move the Lahore High Court.

EDO (Education) Mushtaq Ahmad Tahir, when contacted, defended the official stance, saying: “There are some software problems which don’t support the policy of recruitment of educators. And as most candidates had applied for more than a dozen vacancies (each), it is highly difficult for the district government officials to sort out the suitable candidates.”

To make the process transparent and hassle-free, he said, fresh applications had been invited according to union council numbers, something which would favour the candidates. He added that the amount received earlier would go to the provincial government.