KARACHI:
The qualifying marks for recruitment of Junior Science Teacher (JST) in Sindh deserve serious reconsideration. While maintaining standards is important, the present passing requirement of 55 marks appears unfair, given that the JST examination paper was not an ordinary subject-based test. It covered English, Mathematics, Science, General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Islamiat and Pedagogy. Candidates had to perform well across several areas, making the examination both lengthy and demanding. In such a paper, obtaining 50 marks is not a poor performance.
Sindh is already facing serious educational challenges. According to official figures, the province’s literacy rate is around 57 per cent. Against this background, more than five thousand educated young people scoring 50 or above should be seen as a valuable resource, not as failures just because they fell short by five marks.
Many government schools continue to face a shortage of teachers, especially in rural areas. Under the circumstances, it is painful to see capable candidates left out over such a narrow margin. The authorities should review the qualifying criteria. It would not lower standards. It would rather help strengthen the education system by bringing more committed teachers into classrooms.
Sanaullah Brohi
Dadu
