RAWALPINDI:
The Punjab province has assigned the responsibility of monitoring the annual examinations of Intermediate, FA, and FSC to Tehsildars, Naib Tahsildars, Gurudwaras, and Patwaris in the Rawalpindi division.
This initiative marks a departure from traditional practices and represents the first instance of such a responsibility being given to these officials in the history of Punjab.
The initiative has been started in the Rawalpindi Division, where Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, Gurudwaras, and Patwaris from the four districts will oversee examination centres throughout the division. This proactive measure aims to ensure the integrity and fairness of the examination process, particularly by cracking down on illegal activities like the booty mafia.
Furthermore, the Punjab government has expressed reservations regarding the reliance on teachers for examination duties as the current system is exploited by nefarious elements. As a result, the government has empowered finance officials to monitor examination centres, reflecting its commitment to reforming the examination process.
Assistant commissioners have allocated separate examination centres to Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, Gurudwaras, and Patwaris within their respective areas, which they will directly supervise. However, this decision has faced opposition from teachers’ organisations, including the Punjab Teachers Union, Punjab SES Teachers Association, and Educators Association.
Leaders such as Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia, Akhian Gul, and Basharat Iqbal Raja have called for an immediate reversal of the decision to involve Patwaris in examination centres. They argue that such interference could potentially disrupt the examination process and undermine its credibility.
The concerns raised by teachers’ organisations highlight the need for a balanced approach that addresses both the necessity for reform and the importance of maintaining trust in the examination process.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2024.
