Teachers in K-P now enjoy a level playing field

Introduction of standard entry tests leaves little room for anything other than merit.

PESHAWAR:

Knowing that they have a fair shot at getting the job is half the battle won for teaching candidates in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). According to a new policy introduced by the provincial government earlier last year, the primary and secondary education department in the province has started hiring teachers through the National Testing Service (NTS).

The new recruitment system is an attempt to create a uniform standard for candidates who belong to different educational backgrounds and make merit and transparency the basis of the recruitment process. The test assesses candidates based on their knowledge of mathematics, English, science and current affairs. So far, nearly 5,115 teachers have been recruited in K-P through the NTS, including primary and secondary school teachers, physical education instructors, theology and Arabic teachers along with qaris (Islamic studies teachers).

“What sets [this test] apart is that no unfair means are [used] in the examination hall,” says a newly recruited teacher. “Hence, not everyone can pass and most of the people are apprehensive about it.” Most teaching candidates are also happy about the equal opportunity provided to everyone.

“I was never ever called for even an interview [when I applied the last time] despite the fact that I was highly qualified,” says Fazal Karim, who holds a master’s degree from Peshawar University and was hired as primary school teacher (PST) four months ago through the NTS system.

Previously, to qualify for a PST job, the candidate had to complete his or her matriculation degree, which was later revised to intermediate in 2012. Additionally, they had to complete the Primary Teaching Certificate (PTC)—a one-year teaching course, offered by various government and private colleges that familiarizes candidates with the academic syllabus, child psychology and teaching skills.

The earlier recruitment mechanism left ample room for manipulation and allowed those with political clout to place candidates of their own choice against advertised posts. Teacher recruitment and service rules were amended in 2012 with an aim to recruit those who are successful in the NTS, in addition to holding professional teacher education degrees (PTC, CT, ADE, BEd etc).

According to Peshawar District Education Officer Sharif Gul, the new system of recruitment has addressed the issue of interference from politicians and eliminated the chance of under-qualified candidates entering the system. A teacher who spoke to The Express Tribune corroborates this claim. “I am very happy because once you have a permanent job you can easily climb up the ladder now whereas in the past, if you were well-connected politically you could get a government job regardless of how unqualified you are.”

Malik Khalid, the president of the All Primary Teachers Association, also appreciated this initiative by the government of K-P and added it had automatically raised the bar for teachers. He urged the government, however, to release the teachers’ salaries that have been pending for the past four months. He also urged the provincial government to transfer them from a contract to a permanent basis as soon as possible.

However, not everyone is satisfied with the changes in the recruitment process. “Even if you appear for the NTS, you still have to hold a professional teacher education qualification such as the PTC, Certificate in Teaching (CT), Associate Degree in Education (ADE), BEd degree, which in my opinion is not necessary,” says another teacher. “Most of the people who clear the test are graduates from Peshawar University and hence, [the requirement] to take the PTC, CT, ADE, MEd courses becomes quite unnecessary,” he says, adding that if a person is well-educated, she or he can easily be trained in teaching skills in a few months.

Once the teaching candidates clear the test and acquire a professional teacher education qualification, they are hired on a contract which is renewed every year and changed to a permanent basis after an average of two to four years. Each teacher is hired in one of the following three categories: a) primary school teachers which is a BPS-12 position and earns Rs7,000 to Rs22,000 per month; b) Pre-senior primary school teachers which is a BPS-14 position and is paid anywhere between Rs8,000 to Rs26,300 per month; or c) Primary school head teachers, a BPS-15 position, is paid a monthly salary ranging between Rs8,500 and Rs29,500. The government employees receive an annual increment according to rank or grade, respectively. For example, a grade 12 employee gets a Rs500 raise annually whereas a grade 16 officer receives a Rs800 incremental change in his or her compensation package. This increment is in addition to the annual salary raise announced by the government in each budget.

In order to tackle the issue of teacher shortages in far-flung areas of the districts, a new procedure of union council/school-based recruitment has also been introduced for primary school teachers for the first time. Gul explains that according to the new rule, a primary school teacher recruited for a school in his or her local or nearest union council would not be posted anywhere else during their service in order to overcome the shortage of teachers in rural areas. “They have to apply for a post in a particular school and the top scoring candidate will be given the job and will serve the rest of their career in the same school,” he says. “There will be no posting or transfer.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2015.