K-P Assembly passes ETEA autonomy bill

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday passed the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency Bill 2026, granting financial and administrative autonomy to the provincial testing body, in a session marked by high parliamentary drama after treasury lawmakers briefly sided with the opposition on a key amendment.

The bill, presented by Law Minister Aftab Alam, establishes the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA) as an independent authority empowered to conduct screening, recruitment, and entrance tests for government and private institutions across the province, as well as for federal and other provincial governments through signed agreements.

However, opposition lawmaker Aamna Sardar moved several amendments, including provisions related to classes 4, 6, 7, 17, and 18, demanding strict penalties for paper leaks, ensuring the confidentiality of examination papers, and tightening the appointment process for the executive director. The government rejected her proposals outright.

The situation took an unexpected turn when Speaker Babar Saleem Swati put the amendments to a voice vote. Treasury lawmakers voted in favour of the opposition move, catching the chair off guard. The Speaker immediately ordered a repeat vote to clarify the house's position, after which the amendments were formally rejected.

Under the new legislation, the ETA will enjoy sweeping powers, including the authority to declare any government or private premises as an examination centre, impose strict punishments on individuals involved in cheating or using illegal means, and conduct entry tests for professional colleges and universities. The agency will also screen candidates for public and private sector recruitment, develop modern testing systems, and promote research-oriented learning among students.

The agency will be headed by a Board of Governors chaired by the Chief Minister. An endowment fund will be established to ensure financial sustainability. The law makes it mandatory to present the annual audit report before the provincial assembly. The new act replaces the old 2001 ordinance on educational testing.

In a separate development, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati approved the names of seven assembly members for the newly formed Provincial Safety Commission. According to a notification issued by the K-P Assembly Secretariat, lawmaker Israr Safi will serve as chairman of the commission. Other members include Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi, government lawmaker Munir Hussain Laghmani, PML-N's Zarshad Khan, PPP's Ahmed Kundi, ANP's Muhammad Nisar Baz, and PML-N's Faiza Malik.

The passage of the ETEA Bill marks a significant step toward standardising educational testing across the province, though the floor drama underscored lingering tensions between the treasury and opposition benches on accountability and transparency mechanisms. The new law is expected to take immediate effect following the Speaker's assent.