Matric exam: Security guards to be deployed at centres in Rawalpindi

CCTV cameras to be set up in halls

RAWALPINDI: As educational institutions in Rawalpindi, along with the rest of the Punjab, gear up to host the annual matriculation exams, the education authorities have decided to deploy armed guards at the examination centres.

A circular in this regard has been issued by the Rawalpindi Education Board Controller Examination Abid Kharal on Friday.The annual matric exams are supposed to commence from March 1 at some 5,000 examination centres across Punjab, including in Rawalpindi.

Moreover, closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed to monitor the examination halls and the entry and exit gates of the centres.

The 5,500 security guards hired for the purpose will be screened by the special branch of the police and will require clearance certificates. Those guards who do not have clearance will not be deployed. Moreover, they will be paid by the nine education boards of the province and their service will end at the end of the exams.

Low attendance

Students in the 550 girls and boys colleges across Punjab who do not have 75 per cent attendance in the FA and FSc classes have been barred from being represented as regular students on their intermediate examination forms. This was directed in a circular issued by Punjab Higher Education Commission Public Instruction Director Chaudhry Jahangir.

Security tightened: Section 144 imposed as matric exams begin in Lahore

Jahangir has directed the divisional directorates, district directorates and college principals not to send regular registration for students who have low attendance. Moreover, colleges were warned that if they continue to send registration of low-attendance-students the heads of these institutions would have to face strict action from the commission.

This has caused concern amongst students and their parents who noted that previously, the attendance requirements used to be around 85 per cent to 90 per cent. Registration for the May 6, 2019, exams is expected to start in the last week of January.

Scholarship for children of govt officers enhanced

The Punjab government has enhanced the scholarship for orphan children of government employees in all categories including teachers, clerks, gazette officers and non-gazetted.

According to government documents, scholarship for orphan children of non-gazetted officers from basic pay scale (BPS) grade one to 15, the scholarship was increased from Rs1,500, Rs3,000, Rs6,000 to Rs5,000 and Rs10,000 respectively per year. For gazette officers in BPS-16 and above, their orphan children would receive between Rs20,000 to Rs50,000. This is up from Rs5,000 to Rs16,000 in the past regime.

Moreover, it was decided that the scholarship will be for completing 16-years-of-education. Moreover, the marriage grant was enhanced from Rs20,000 and Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 and Rs150,000 respectively.

Moreover, the monthly grant to widows of government employees has also been increased. From Rs1,950 to Rs5,000 for officers in BPS-1 to 10. From Rs2,550 to Rs7,500 for officers in BSP-11 to BPS-15.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2019.