THROUGH a foreign-funded programme, the Reform Support Unit (RSU) was established in the department of Education and Literacy, Sindh.

The main purpose was to recruit teachers for primary and secondary schools in the province through a transparent and reliable and a merit-based system of selection for suitable candidates. For achieving this goal, a written test was made the only means of evaluating merit, doing away with viva test which often became controversial and was usually considered non-transparent.

It was expected of the RSU to get this policy uniformly implemented in letter and in spirit.

Currently, such a selection is unde rway through written examination via objective questions conducted through the National Testing Service (NTS). This objective, however, could not be realised due to mismanagement at many centres and complaints of widespread indulgence in copying.

The result was to be declared soon after the tests. However, it was declared after 10 to15 days though optical automatic reading machines are available to enable the department to compile and publish results in a couple of days.

This has raised questions about transparency. A photocopy of solved papers of JST General-2 has landed at this scribe’s. This indicates that integrity and secrecy of test papers was breached. The NTS ought to look into its faults in the system management for this particular engagement.

It is necessary that the Department of Education and Literacy should come up with a solution to this problem.

ZAFAR ALI SHAH Member, National Assembly Naushahro Feroze