Punjab skips tests for AEOs, SSTs

Mandates interviews through PPSC which teachers reject

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Education Ministry has bowed to the demands of teachers and their representative bodies to scrap written tests for regularising 10,000 Assistant Education Officers (AEOs) and Secondary Schools Teachers (SSTs). However, the ministry has deemed it mandatory that all these officials must appear for an interview by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC). In this regard, the ministry has directed the interview committee to start the process for interviews immediately and to complete it before the two-month summer vacations for schools end. Moreover, the ministry has deemed it mandatory that the safety guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the government to guard against the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), are followed during the interviews, including social distancing, wearing face masks and gloves.

These AEOs and SSTs were recruited after clearing tests conducted by the National Testing Service (NTS) in 2014 and 2015 and hence, have completed a minimum of five years of service.

Meanwhile, Punjab Teachers Union Central Secretaries Rana Liaqat Ali and Shafiq Bhalwalia have declared these interviews as illegal and demanded to rescind them.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2020.