"Teachers Induction in GB "

By Shahid Hussain Shehzada

Though the statements of Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah and Minister for education Dr Ali Madad Shair could not satisfy the candidates regarding their commitments about the free, fair and transparent recruitment in education department of GB. As a bulk of candidates expressed their reservations over settled criteria for hiring of BPS-14 teachers on the advertisements of local newspapers as it has been ignored. Couples of candidates have been recommended who do not meet the respective conditions.

Soon after the written test majority of candidates complained that various students appeared in the test on the basis of education diplomas which they brought from different parts of the country and it do not meet the settled rules of GB education department. While responding to these concerns education Minister and Secretary Education issued official stance on local newspapers and it was said that education department will verify all documents of appeared candidates but in practice they did not do so. These remained only media statements. Now recruitment process has been completed and those candidates are also appointed who do not meet the given rules. While education minister himself acknowledged in the floor of house during assembly secession that 10% mishandling occurred during the whole recruitment process. It means that more than 10% special favor has been bestowed to nears and dears.

How a common man will expect from the present PPP led government of GB about merit and fair induction of teachers into education department. As public is well aware about the recent recruitment of police constables whereby an impartial and fair recruitment team led by DIG Amjad who completed the hiring process while getting public appreciation. In the history of GB and even Pakistan, failed candidates chanted slogans in favour of DIG led team. While in education department candidates are still raising their voices about the violation of merit, and say that it was given space to nepotism and favoritism. These candidates are not ordinary people but are highly qualified and they are in a state of deprivation.

This is the reason that education department in GB is loosing its importance before public and public at large switched to private schools despite of paying heavy fees. When one meets common men in GB and ask about the performance of government schools and teachers. They say that political involvement is at its peak within the education department of Gilgit-Baltistan.Teachers appointment, posting and promotion is entirely dependent on political loyalty. Therefore parents take back their children from government schools and enrolled in private schools. To observe the ongoing situation in government schools within GB, there must be an impartial survey and should be compiled its findings of ignorance, corruption and mismanagement and also its impact on the upcoming generations. Politicians and bureaucrats will complete their turn but the existing and forthcoming generation will suffer and the fruits of progress and prosperity will be at stake.

Headlines of local newspapers are also full of candidates’ reservations over interview panel and they say that the deputy directors of the respective districts did not consider those candidates who did master as well as B.ed but recommended those who did BA and B.ed.This all happened because of political affiliations and the approach of other influential sources while the advertisements for the given posts said that priority would be given for master cum B.ed but it is violated.

Now great responsibility lies on Chief Minister, Education Minister, Chief Secretary, Education secretary and above all the members of legislative assembly of GB to remove the sense of deprivation of our educated youth and look the matter in their personal capacity to address the reservations of those candidates who are confident about their written test as well as interviews. Beyond that practical steps must be taken to verify the doubtful documents of appointed candidates and also review the given numbers for candidates by Deputy Directors (DD) of the respective districts during interviews.If DD’s found guilty then they must be given severe punishments so that the next administrator will not dare to do that.

The writer is free lance article writer based in Islamabad

Shahid.glt@gmail.com