ETEA exam stampede: Aggrieved mother seeks justice
Three-month-old baby crushed to death.
SWAT:
Mother of an infant girl killed in a stampede at the Education Testing & Evaluation Agency (ETEA) examination on Monday has sought justice from the government.
The mother, Inamur Rehman, who appeared for the ETEA’s primary teacher certificate (PTC) and certified teacher (CT) examinations, said after the exam was delayed due to rain the organisers began announcing new seat numbers for prospective candidates.
A large number of women rushed towards the organisers causing a stampede. As candidates jostled against her, her baby fell out of her arms. “My daughter, [Yusra], fell down and I cried out trying to pick her up, but no one heard me,” she said.
Due to heavy snowfall and impaired communication she reached her home in Shangartan Biha village, Matta tehsil, at around 9pm, carrying the body of her infant daughter.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a CT candidate, Sarwar Begum, said after the organisers announced the test she heard a woman crying out for her child who had fallen but she could not see her and she was unaware of the outcome.
She said many candidates had to bring their children along to the test venue because they could not leave them at home.
She added that the exam was “highly mismanaged” because of which it was eventually postponed.
Elders of Shangartan village have also demanded fixing of responsibility for the infant’s death and justice for the parents.
According to the education department, around 4,400 candidates appeared for 66 government positions of CT and PTC in the district. When contacted, the department officials refused to comment on the infant’s death, saying they were unaware of the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2012.
Mother of an infant girl killed in a stampede at the Education Testing & Evaluation Agency (ETEA) examination on Monday has sought justice from the government.
The mother, Inamur Rehman, who appeared for the ETEA’s primary teacher certificate (PTC) and certified teacher (CT) examinations, said after the exam was delayed due to rain the organisers began announcing new seat numbers for prospective candidates.
A large number of women rushed towards the organisers causing a stampede. As candidates jostled against her, her baby fell out of her arms. “My daughter, [Yusra], fell down and I cried out trying to pick her up, but no one heard me,” she said.
Due to heavy snowfall and impaired communication she reached her home in Shangartan Biha village, Matta tehsil, at around 9pm, carrying the body of her infant daughter.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a CT candidate, Sarwar Begum, said after the organisers announced the test she heard a woman crying out for her child who had fallen but she could not see her and she was unaware of the outcome.
She said many candidates had to bring their children along to the test venue because they could not leave them at home.
She added that the exam was “highly mismanaged” because of which it was eventually postponed.
Elders of Shangartan village have also demanded fixing of responsibility for the infant’s death and justice for the parents.
According to the education department, around 4,400 candidates appeared for 66 government positions of CT and PTC in the district. When contacted, the department officials refused to comment on the infant’s death, saying they were unaware of the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2012.