K-P education tester lifts capacity fivefold
PHOTO: FILE.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has appreciated the reforms undertaken by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Educational Testing & Evaluation Agency (ETEA) whose capacity has witnessed a five-fold increase.
He lauded the agency for ensuring transparent and fair examinations being held for admissions in the education sector, employment in various government organization and provision of scholarships.
He said that government believes in introducing reforms at every level in order to ensure efficient service delivery.
Chairing the 30th meeting of the board of governors of ETEA, Mahmood Khan maintained that sustainability in provision of services is of paramount importance and directed the board of governors to make sure that efficiency and transparency are maintained in future so that the credibility of ETEA remains intact.
The meeting was also attended by Provincial Minister for Higher Education Kamran Bangash, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan and other board members.
The meeting was informed that a total of 117 tests were held in the year 2021-22 in which 1,227,170 candidates took part.
In comparison only 71 tests were held in the preceding year in which a total of 364,163 candidates took part.
The increase in number of tests has been made possible due to the reforms which are mostly related with information technology sector that have not only ensured transparency but have also increased ETEA’s capacity.
It was informed that a team from Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board, under the supervision of chief secretary office, conducted an audit of 680,000 results in which zero discrepancy were found.
Similarly, the reforms have also ensured elimination of unfair means and other illegal practices.
Two heavy duty digital printing presses and three document scanners have been installed which have increased the screening and publication capacity of ETEA by 500 per cent.
For e-verification of candidates a mobile application has been launched whereas NADRA biometric and verification system will also be introduced soon which will ensure elimination of impersonation.
It was further revealed that 327 candidates were caught red-handed using unfair means during tests. The papers of these candidates were cancelled and a one-year ban was imposed upon them. FIRs were also registered in some cases.
Furthermore, the participants of the meeting were informed that video recording of all the examinations had been made compulsory and all examination centers had been declared no-mobile zone.
For the purpose, services of a firm have been hired and installation of jammers at examination halls is also being considered.
For the facilitation of applicants, ETEA call center having UAN No9999 and digital payment system will also be made functional by the end of this month.
Besides, the project for establishment of Computer Based Testing Centre will be inaugurated next month.
The meeting was also informed that successful screening tests were also held for the University of Engineering & Technology during the ongoing year in which 7,000 applicants appeared.
The chief minister on this occasion, approved the extension in the contracts of seven employees in BPS-17 and above along with approving increase in pay of ETEA staff by five per cent for employees of BPS-12 and above and 10 per cent in the pay of employees of BPS-9.
The chief minister also approved the recommendation of the selection committee for filling of various vacant posts.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2022.