Appointments in education boards hit snags

Over 25 key posts vacant, scrutiny process stalled for over a month

RAWALPINDI:

Despite the passage of periods ranging from five months to three years, permanent appointments of chairmen, secretaries, and controllers of examinations in nine education boards of Punjab, including the Rawalpindi board, remain pending.

All nine boards are currently being run on an ad hoc basis, with divisional and district administration officers, including commissioners, deputy commissioners, and junior education officers holding temporary charge.

The Punjab Higher Education Commission received applications on December 31, 2025, for permanent appointments to 27 posts of chairmen, secretaries, and controllers of examinations. However, even after 40 days, the scrutiny process has not been completed. In some boards, these posts have remained vacant for over four months, while in others, for two to three years.

Due to prolonged vacancies, promotion systems for departmental employees have come to a complete halt, with only routine matters being handled.

With matriculation and intermediate annual examinations approaching next month, concerns are increasing.

This year, a total of seven senior education officers, including women officers, have applied for these posts.

The commission had announced that scrutiny would begin on January 3, but even after one month and ten days, scrutiny and shortlisting remain incomplete.

More than 150 applications have been received for the 27 posts. After scrutiny, appeals against rejected applications will be heard, followed by interviews, making appointments unlikely within the next two months.

The CBA Welfare Union of Rawalpindi Education Board has demanded immediate permanent appointments, stating that the absence of regular chairmen is worsening board affairs and internal issues.