PESHAWAR, Jan 14: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was informed on Friday that the government would soon notify separation of teaching and management cadres in the education department.

Speaking on identical adjournment motions, Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Sardar Hussain Babak told the house that favouritism still prevailed in the education sector and people were posted on administrative positions on the basis of personal likes and dislikes.

He said that executive district officers (education) were appointed on political and sectarian basis instead of merit.

He said that teaching and management cadres would soon be segregated under the proposed policy. He said that the government had the will to improve standard of teaching and quality of education.

About the delay in notification, the minister said that the policy had been challenged in the court while the department concerned was conducting scrutiny of 26 candidates recommended by the provincial Public Service Commission (PSC) for the posts of EDOs.

He said that during scrutiny seven candidates were identified who did not fulfill the set criteria while further process was underway.

Speaking on his adjournment motion, MPA Mufti Kifayatullah expressed concern over politicisation of education sector. Appreciating the proposed policy, he said that the government should issue the notification without delay.

The mover said that the PSC had recommended 26 candidates for the post of EDOs, 26 females for the post of district officers, 150 females for assistant district officers and 241 for assistant district officers (male). He said that notification regarding appointment of these recommended candidates had been delayed for seven months.

Abdul Akbar Khan questioned the credibility of the PSC and alleged that seven people not meeting the required qualifications had been selected for the posts of EDOs. He said that the post of EDO required at least 12 years teaching experience, whereas the commission had called candidates who had nine-year experience in the relevant field.

Mufti Said Janan also criticised the commission and said that hundreds of posts were lying vacant in schools, but it could not be filled during the past three years.

Israrullah Khan Gandapur said that the government had delayed appointment of EDOs on political grounds. He said that of 26 candidates selected by the commission for the post of EDOs, 12 belonged to southern districts of the province.

He said that delay in appointment of EDOs would create a sense of deprivation among the people of southern districts.

The house also passed 'The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Servants Benevolent Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2011' after MPA Saqibullah Khan Chamkani withdrew his amendment.