KARACHI, June 21: Sindh Education Secretary Ghulam Ali Pasha on Monday said that the results of the written tests of the candidates for the posts of high and primary school teachers would be announced in the first week of July.

He mentioned that the number of candidates appearing in the test conducted in two groups by two different testing bodies was much higher and as such scanning of their answer scripts was a time-consuming exercise. We are in contact with the private testing agencies for timely completion of the process, he pointed out.

About 317,000 candidates were registered for the written tests for recruitment of school teachers. Tests were held on May 29 and 30, in which about 275,000 candidates appeared at different centres, set up in all districts of the province.

Meanwhile, the process of the appointments made on over 750 ad hoc lecturer posts in Sindh colleges is in progress and the selected teachers will start assuming their assignments with the commencement of new academic session, it has been learnt officially.

After interviewing about 3,400 candidates, who had passed a written test, the Sindh Public Service Commission had issued the subject-wise lists of the candidates selected for the three-year contractual jobs about a month back. However, after the dissolution of the provincial cabinet and resignation of former chief minister Ali Mohammad Mahar, quarters concerned have been apprehensive regarding the fate of the newly-selected teachers.

On Monday, Sindh Education Secretary Ghulam Ali Pasha maintained that offer letters were being issued to the candidates in line with the lists prepared by the SPSC and added that the impression that things had came to a stand still or the exercise undertaken in regard to the appointments had been abandoned or were likely to be reviewed, was wrong.

He said the written tests and interviews were conducted in a fool proof manner, as per the governments recruitment policy, and as such he did not see any reason for declaring those null and void. The candidates would be posted at colleges after completing formalities, he added.