(Un)trained school staff to assume charge in most districts

LAHORE: As the government has been unable to complete the recruitment process of Assistant Education Officers (AEOs) and educators on time, the candidates in most of the Punjab districts will have to start their service without training, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Though the eight-week training of the newly recruited AEOs and educators in Punjab has started in some of the Punjab districts, the recruits in other districts are still waiting for the authorities to complete their recruitment process.

The Punjab government had advertised the posts for educators and AEOs and planned to recruit as many as 77,450 candidates to the school education workforce. The posts were advertised and merit lists finalised, however, the provincial government required a third party validation (TPV), being carried out by Nexia International, to check the merit lists and then finalise the appointments.

After which, the newly recruited AEOs and educators would undergo an eight-week of induction training at the Directorate of Staff Development (DSD), the public body responsible to train the staff.

As many as 2,200 AEOs have been selected out of the total 2,900 seats advertised, whereas 78,000 educators have been selected in all 36 districts of the province. However, because of the delays in the recruitment finalisation and the TPV, the DSD had to postpone the training for the newly recruited teachers.

Initially, the DSD had given July 3 as the start of an eight-week induction training, which was later postponed to July 6,” an official disclosed on condition of anonymity. He said the TPV was being carried out for the AEOs, after which the TPV of the educators would take place.

“The recruitment process will be completed when that (TPV) is completed and appointment letters will be issued then,” he said.

He said it was expected that the freshly inducted officials and schoolteachers would start work immediately after the summer holidays, which end on August 14. “Where the TPV was still pending, the government had ordered to complete it by July 10. Given the current situation, it is expected that the training of remaining educators and AEOs could get postponed till next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DSD had written a letter to the provincial government to finalise the process. The letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune read, “This year the status of AEOs and newly recruited educators’ order is still pending.”

The letter further points out that the delay in the TPV was one of the major reasons behind this. “Therefore, you are requested to inform the exact date of issuance of orders for both categories if TPV has been completed, so that, DSD may announce training date after one week of issuance of orders.”

When contacted, Punjab School Education (SED) Secretary Dr Allah Baksh Malik said the department would start the induction training from today (Thursday).

Quality learning: Punjab remains committed to education

Meanwhile, Punjab Teachers’ Union (PTU) Central General Secretary Rana Liaquat Ali said that TPV had been completed in some districts where the training was being started, however, he said in other districts it was still ye to start.

“Even the training period of police constables is longer than that of teachers. We have expressed our reservations over this and want a lengthy, more rigorous training for teachers. Furthermore, it seems that the provincial government will not be able to provide the limited training to the new recruits.”

Source: The Express Tribune