Waiting game nears end for teaching candidates

Assembly panel signals relief options, including retest and age limit flexibility

KARACHI:

In a move that could affect thousands of job-seeking teachers, a Sindh Assembly committee on Thursday took up long-pending demands of waiting candidates, signalling possible relief measures including a one-time chance, retesting, and age relaxation.

Chaired by Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah, the committee's first meeting examined a range of proposals, including granting a one-time opportunity to waiting candidates, conducting fresh tests, offering age-limit relaxation, and placing future recruitment under parliamentary oversight. The panel agreed to finalise its recommendations in the next meeting.

Senior officials told the committee that nearly 50,000 teaching vacancies were identified in 2019, with the recruitment drive expanding over time due to rising retirements. A major hiring phase launched in 2022 resulted in more than 95,000 teachers being recruited across Sindh by June 2025 through what authorities described as a merit-based and transparent process.

The speaker termed the scale and transparency of the recruitment drive a historic achievement, stressing that merit and accountability would remain non-negotiable. He added that all data presented to the committee would be reviewed in detail.

Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah proposed that future hiring processes be conducted under the supervision of a parliamentary committee to ensure continued transparency and alignment with actual needs. He said education reform requires collective responsibility and stronger institutional oversight.

The committee was informed that recruitment was completed in six phases, with successful candidates posted at the taluka level to address shortages in remote areas. However, several vacancies remain unfilled in hard areas due to low pass rates. Members praised the use of OMR- and EMR-based testing systems for ensuring fairness.

Law Minister Zia Lanjar emphasised that any decision would remain within the legal and policy framework, noting that protests by candidate groups underscore the urgency of a balanced and lasting solution. He also stressed the need to protect opportunities for new graduates entering the job market.

The issue of waiting candidates dominated the discussion, with the committee considering a one-time opportunity valid until June 2026–27 for those who have been waiting for years. Another proposal called for fresh testing instead of indefinite reliance on past results.