K-P education board tiff

With matriculation exams ongoing, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s education board has opted to temporarily close shop on account of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Boards of Elementary and Secondary Examination Bill, 2018. In all, seven primary and secondary education boards ceased activity to object to some of the terms of the bill, which calls for the establishment of an elementary and secondary education board. Key positions like chairman and secretary of this board would only be held by academics instead of board employees. Other stipulations rule that board employees will be transferable between the seven boards, impinging upon potential promotions of others. The arguments put forth by current board employees must be negotiated in a swift manner. The timing of the tiff is inconvenient and serves as a distraction to the academic operations of the department, specifically with examinations currently being administered, regardless of claims to the contrary.

Key reforms in the bill must be written so that both parties are satisfied. The establishment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Board within the Peshawar Education Board is a move that has massive potential. With regard to a centralised body to provide and score exam papers, this is a prudent step in terms of practicality. However, as with introducing a new department within an existing one, clear roles and responsibilities have to be communicated so that chances of internal strife are mitigated.

On the other hand, it must be ascertained that anyone working for the boards of education is employed with the correct intentions. In other words, objections raised to the new reforms should not be motivated by paychecks. Time and again, tussles arise in education departments due to salaries and budgets and what remains out of focus is the student body for which education boards and departments exist in the first place. This bill, likewise, has come with controversy over the last several months. Terms should be settled quickly so that operations can resume.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2018.

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