KARACHI, May 29: The written test for recruitment of primary school teachers (PSTs) was held amidst confusion and mismanagement at various centres on Saturday.

About 21,594 candidates - 10,709 males and 10,885 females - were registered for the test, which was scheduled to begin at 10.30am.

However, sources in the provincial education department said that about 20 to 28 per cent of the candidates did not appear in the test on Saturday. It is expected that a number of them had opted for the second test to be held on May 30 for recruitment of Junior School Teachers, High School Teachers, Sindhi Language and Drawing teachers, PTIs and others.

There were some complaints that test commenced some 30 to 90 minutes behind schedule at many of the centres. At some of these centres, question papers were supplied late while at others there was a little shortage.

When contacted, an official told Dawn that the problem of paper shortage had emerged because a number of candidates turned up at the centres, which were not meant for them. Finally, he added, the centre superintendents had to run for additional number of question papers and answer scripts.

In Gulberg Town, mismanagement was at its height when the test for 100 candidates was held at Karachi Academy, which was not mentioned in the notified list of centres. The candidates were given opportunity to attempt the paper which was already opened at other centres in the morning.

When asked about the reason for holding test at Karachi Academy that was not included in list of centres, city government's senior education officials said that they decided to do so purely on humanitarian ground.

The test at Karachi Academy started around 12.25pm when candidates at other centres had already finished their papers.

Talking to Dawn, a teacher conducting the test at the academy said that a number of candidates turned up there in the morning. He claimed that he contacted the local education officer to get instructions on the unexpected development. After many attempts, he said, he was told to send the awaiting candidates to Allama Iqbal School, Sohrab Goth.

However, he added, students did not agree to the decision andinsisted for taking the test at Karachi Academy. Finally, a decision was taken to hold the test there to avoid law and order situation.

Around 1pm, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan visited the new centre. After having round of different rooms and briefing from his aides as well as educational officers, he told newsmen that he was not satisfied over the hurriedly-made arrangements. He claimed that he considered it an illegal act as the centre was not notified in the list.

The candidates, who took test at Karachi Academy, said that they had information throughnotices displayed at education office located in Allama Iqbal School that their test would be held at Karachi Academy School on Saturday. "If we were at fault the school staff should have told us in the morning to rush to Allama Iqbal School, where the male candidates of the Gulberg Town were supposed to appear," a candidate remarked.

At Shah Faisal Girls Secondary School, the test commenced around 1.30pm, as candidates reported there beyond calculations. In view of the shortage of question papers, school staff delayed the test.

However, a senior teacher said that the mess was created only due to the poor management on the part of the test coordinators appointed by the provincial education department. He said they failed to issue any call letter to students. They did not even bother to advertise the details of centres for the convenience of candidates, he added.

The second phase of test would be held on May 30 at 45 centres set up in different towns of Karachi. The test will begin at 10.30am, while the candidates are required to report at their respective centres by 9am.

All candidates have been advised by EDO Education (Schools) Gul Muhammad Hajiano that they can appear only at those centres located in their respective towns. Moreover, the candidates have also been advised to bring with them original slips, NICs and clip boards.