Protest held against 55% IBA policy for JEST-PST posts

LARKANA:A known social activist Liaquat Mirani striving since long for supremacy of education held a huge protest demonstration along with student leaders including Aftab Chandio, Ali Jatoi, Baqar Ali, Sajad Junejo and others and shouted slogans against IBA results and policy for recruitment of Junior Elementary School Teachers (JEST) / Primary School Teachers (PST) at Jinnah Bagh on Sunday.

While addressing the participants, Mirani said that over 10,000 schools are closed in Sindh. Education system is ruined from primary to graduation level, Sifarishi culture, sale of grades through Intermediate Boards, shortage of expert and experienced teachers, modern scientific education and shortage of technological system have destroyed the education in the province, he added.

He said students are only given degrees but despite all that anomalies students get educated through libraries, studying at their homes and appear in job tests. He said the IBA test was like the candidates were appearing in Public Service Commission examination in which they obtained 30 to 50 marks. He said that the questions did not match the prevailing standard of education in Sindh and IBA stood exposed when severe mistakes in questions and answers were found by the candidates in the test. He said candidates are extremely worried about their future due to the dirty and faulty tests conducted by the IBA.

Mirani claimed that some students have committed suicide for which Sindh Government and corrupt system should be held responsible. He said headmasters were appointed on 35% marks in the IBA test but now each candidate has to secure 45% marks in each subject and collectively everyone should secure 55% marks which is unjust and termed it high-handedness.

Mirani said JEST and PST posts are of BPS-14 whereas headmaster post was of BPS-17. He said this double standard and student-enemy policy should be set aside without losing a moment and those who have obtained 33% or above marks should be issued offer letters to meet the ends of justice keeping in view the quality of education. He warned that if their just demand is not accepted immediately then a massive sit-in will be staged in front of IBA Sukkur and then at CM House in Karachi for acceptance of their demand.