Islamabad, Feb 28: The upcoming annual matriculation exams in Rawalpindi Division, set to begin on March 4, are facing significant hurdles due to a severe shortage of teachers willing to take on examination duties. The lack of cooperation from school heads and educators has further complicated the allocation of examination staff and centre-in-charge positions, raising concerns about the smooth conduct of exams across Punjab.
This persistent issue has put all nine education boards in the province in a difficult position, prompting them to seek immediate intervention from the Punjab Ministry of Education. The reluctance of teachers to participate in examination duties has created a staffing crisis that could potentially disrupt both matriculation and intermediate exams.
In response, the Punjab Ministry of Education has issued strict directives to all 43 district education authorities, district education officers, and school heads, emphasizing the urgent need to assign teachers to examination duties. A directive, signed by Section Officer Ahmed Bilal Khan, has been circulated, setting a 24-hour deadline for compliance. The order warns that failure to meet the deadline will not be tolerated and could result in disciplinary action.
Additionally, to ensure there are no further delays, the directive suspends any ongoing government responsibilities for teachers assigned to exam duties. It also mandates the immediate appointment of marking teachers for both matriculation and intermediate exams, ensuring that the evaluation process remains on schedule.
This development underscores the growing challenges in Punjab’s education sector, where resistance from educators has now started affecting the critical examination process. With the exams fast approaching, the effectiveness of the Ministry’s directive remains to be seen, as education authorities scramble to address the shortage and ensure the timely execution of exam procedures.
