Two years on, BSEK, BIEK continue to function without permanent staff

CM House spokesperson claims process nearly complete, controllers and secretaries will be appointed soon

KARACHI: The largest examination boards of the province are functioning without permanent controllers of examinations or secretaries.
The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) and Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) have not had permanent controllers or secretaries for the past two years and the boards' affairs are being managed on an ad hoc basis. The deputy controller, recognition department officers and deputy secretaries have been given acting charges and are fulfilling the duties along with their own duties.

BSEK

After the contract of the former controller of examinations, Noman Ahsan, ended in 2015, Hidayatullah Ansari was given the acting charge of the post, but soon after he also retired and deputy controller Khalid Ehsan was given the additional charge of the acting controller of examinations at BSEK. Since then, he has been performing the duties and the annual examinations, results and registrations for the last two years have been conducted without permanent employees.

The same is the case of the BSEK secretary, since Hoor Mazhar left due to her ailment. Syed Muhammad Ali Shaiq, who was from the recognition department, is currently serving as the acting secretary at the board office.



“I have sent many requests and had several meetings with the universities and boards secretary but they always say that a permanent controller and secretary will be appointed soon,” BSEK Chairperson Saeeduddin said. He also said that the appointments are to be done through a competent authority and that is Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Universities and Board Secretary Naveed Shaikh.

"Things are going on the same way in the board, but if permanent employees will be appointed then the functioning will improve," he said, adding that all the chairpersons of the boards will be having a meeting with Shaikh after the Eid holidays with the hope that the issue of permanent appointments will be resolved soon.

BIEK

Similarly, BIEK has also not had a permanent controller of examinations for the last two years. Ever since former controller Imran Khan Chishti was removed over allegations of corruption, deputy controller Zarina Rashid was given charge of the post but soon after, the Sindh High Court (SHC) allowed Chishti to take his seat back. He served as the controller for another few months, but was removed again from the post on March 10 this year over the same allegations. Since then, Muhammad Jafar has been serving as the acting controller at BIEK.



Before the annual examinations of 2017, Jafar also wrote to the BIEK chairperson saying that he had no experience to conduct the examinations and would need the help of the former deputy controller, Syed Liaquat Ali. Even after the disastrous cheating incidents during this year’s exams, no appointments were made by the competent authorities to resolve matters at the board.

BIEK also lacks a permanent secretary since former secretary Qazi Arshad completed his tenure. Arshad’s tenure ended when Akhter Ghori was the chairperson of BIEK. Deputy Accounts Secretary Azeem Ahmed has been serving as the acting secretary of the board since then.

BIEK Chairperson Inam Ahmed said that the appointment of the secretary, controller and chairperson of the board should be done through a search committee. "According to the SHC’s order, these appointments are to be conducted through a search committee," he said, adding that they have sent several reminders to the universities and boards secretary, but have yet to be informed what the issue in making permanent appointments is.



Meanwhile, the CM House spokesperson claimed that the process is nearly complete and controllers and secretaries will be appointed soon. “Interviews will be held very soon to fill these positions,” he said.