Have a seat: ‘Wrong’ candidates allowed to appear for RITE exams

Two of them had not taken any required classes

PESHAWAR: The Regional Institute of Teacher Education (RITE) Peshawar allowed two candidates, who had not taken a single class or completed necessary coursework, to sit for Drawing Master (DM) annual examinations which started on August 2.

Also, three others, who may be considered suspended under the rules, were permitted to take the assessment.  Every year, the RITE wing of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department offers different certificates courses for teachers.

The institute conducts three examinations during the completion of these courses. These include internal, secondary and annual examinations, and certificates are issued upon successful completion.



According to RITE rules, 75% attendance in classes is mandatory and if a student is absent for more than six days, he or she may be considered suspended. The individual can only re-register if their plea is accepted by the director of Directorate of Curriculum and Teacher Education (DCTE). The DM annual examination started on August 2 and will conclude on August 14.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a RITE official, requesting anonymity, said two students, who are the sons of a section officer in the education department, were allowed to sit for the exams by the school principal and RITE Peshawar assistant director (male).

However, none of them completed any of the prerequisites to take the examination.

He added three others, who only attended classes in the initial stages and subsequently remained absent for eight months, were also allowed to appear.

The official said DCTE Assistant Director Examination Naveed Akhtar, RITE (male) Peshawar principal Sajad Anjum and a librarian were involved in this illegal act. He requested authorities to take action against these officials to secure the rights of deserving candidates.

When contacted, Anjum confirmed reports about the two “undeserving candidates” and said they were allowed to appear for the exam by the DCTE director.

He clarified that the institution’s work was to deliver education to students and not conduct examinations for them.  The principal claimed the DCTE examination assistant director took the “illegal case” of these students to the director who then allowed both of them to appear.

Anjum said his signatures were forged on registration forms which allowed these candidates to appear.

DCTE Deputy Director Farooq Khan said authorities have taken notice of this case and collected relevant documents from the institute. He claimed little action could be taken up at this point due to his busy schedule, but assured the guilty officials would be taken to task.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2016.