SPSC cancels all exams for teaching posts over test paper leak

By Zubair Ashraf

February 21, 2024

The Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) has cancelled all examinations for the post of Grade-16 Secondary School (SST) teachers after a paper was found leaked on Tuesday.

A student can be seen attempting her exam paper in this undated image. — APP/File

According to the SPSC secretary, the commission has unanimously decided to cancel all the papers of the SST in general and science category, whether already held or to be held from February 16 to February 26, 2024.

This announcement preceded the cancellation of the February 20 exam for male SST teaching posts in general category soon after the question paper was found leaked and circulating on social media before the test began.

Following the cancellation of the exam, a protest by the SST aspirants were observed in parts of the province, including Karachi, demanding a fair inquiry into the test paper leak.

Afterwards, the SPSC issued a statement reading that the commission believed in transparency and no tolerance would be shown to the perpetrators. In the meantime, the SPSC immediately suspended its eight officials, including Assistant Controller Exam-I Zainal Alam, Senior Computer Operator Sajjad Ahmed Chawli, Senior Computer Operator Ahsan Zaheer Abro, Qasid Khan Mohammad Shah, Naib Qasid Akbar Ali Dahiri, Naib Qasid Syed Shahzeb Jafri, Naib Qasid Shahzaib Abro, Naib Qasid Aziz Ahmed.

However, the SPSC did not mention if these suspensions were linked to the test paper leaking scandal. Though, it did add that the charge sheet against these officers would be issued separately.

The commission said that the paper leaking matter had been referred to the police department for conducting a thorough probe and lodging an FIR against the alleged SPSC officers or private persons involved in this scam.

The commission said that the pre-interview written test of head master/head mistress (BS-17), College Education Department, and assistant (BS-16), Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment, will be conducted on February 27 and 28 as per schedule. It said that the cancelled exams for the SST posts would re-conducted in April.