Representational Image (PHOTO: FILE)

PESHAWAR: With the province encountering repeated issues in utilising various testing services — including the provincial and the national testing services — the provincial government is now mulling a plan to move away from using the services altogether to computer-based tests to maintain merit.



This was announced by the Advisor to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister on Education Ziaullah Khan Bangash on Sunday.



Tests conducted by the provincially owned Education Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA) and the National Testing Service (NTS) have come under stringent scrutiny in recent years with tests for medical colleges and eve for government services running into issues such as poor quality questions included and leaking of results just hours before the tests were held. The latter resulted in the medical tests being rescheduled multiple times last year and it even ended up in a reprimand from the Peshawar High Court (PHC).



Tests from the testing service were being used as part of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s policy of promoting merit in recruitments. However, these weaknesses raised further questions on the system employed.



Bangash said that the provincial government was cognizant of the complaints against the testing agencies, having tried multiple services over the past few years.



But with the province simultaneously pushing an e-recruitment policy, the adviser on education said that in their bid to uphold merit, they will make the testing process online and computer-based, similar to the system used for driving licence testing in other provinces.



Being computer-based, he said that they will be able to ensure merit by giving candidates different tests in a cost and time-effective manner.



He hoped that apart from ensuring merit, the new system will also bring in greater transparency in the recruitment process, particularly for teachers in all cadres.



Chairing a meeting of the education department, Bangash explained said that the e-recruitment policy will help resolve all complaints of irregularities.



To build a transparent and competent system, Bangash said that they will closely work with the K-P Information Technology Board to conduct the e-recruiting test. He added that the Special Assistant on IT Kamran Bangash has assured them of facilitating the provincial education department in implementing the policy.



While replying to a question, the adviser said that merit lists can be created immediately after the test ends, while it will also help prevent any quarter or elected lawmaker from influencing the system in favour of their preferred candidates.



Asked about limitations in conducting tests for thousands of candidates in a single day or even a single sitting in a province where availability of sufficient computers and internet connections, he assured that through this system, they will be able to conduct several tests in a single day. Further, he said that it will make the application process faster as candidates will be able to apply online.



Bangash criticised the testing agencies who have been conducting tests for all the departments in the province, noting that most of the testing agencies use outdated methods.



He hoped that if successful, the new e-recruitment policy will be extended to all education boards of the province.



“The e-recruitment policy will get rid of the testing mafia and system ‘fixers’ in the province apart from ensuring transparency,’ Bangash said, adding that they will send the new policy to the provincial education department by next week for undertaking debates and discussions and seeking feedback from all sector on it.



“The e-recruitment policy will be sent to the K-P Assembly Standing Committee on Education first and later, with their recommendations, we will implement it,” the special adviser said.



Special assistant on IT Kamran said that they have decided to present the e-testing policy to the provincial cabinet after the standing committee reviews it.



He added that the IT board will data from the education department and use it along with other requirements for policy to implement it.







Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2019.