SHC directs SPSC to submit report on recruitment of schoolteachers

The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the Sindh Public Service Commission to submit a report with regard to the recruitment process of high school teachers, subject specialists and headmasters in the education department.

The direction came on a petition with regard to the non-appointment of schoolteachers and dilapidated condition of school buildings in the province. The focal person of the education department submitted that the recruitment process was ongoing by the SPSC regarding HSTs, subject specialists and headmasters.

A single bench, headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, observed that it would be conducive to call a report with regard to the recruitment process of the SPSC to ascertain whether it was transparent and in line with the spirit of court orders whereby the SPSC was required and consented that they would outsource the screening of all teaching posts, including lecturers, through a third-party testing agency.

The court directed the chairman, controller and secretary of the SPSC to submit a report in this regard and observed that violation of court orders would amount to a pejorative act of the commission liable for contempt proceedings.

The court directed the secretary school education department to call a report from all directors, who shall submit complete vacancy positions in their divisions, and thereafter requisition by corrigendum shall be issued to the SPSC for completing all vacant positions and submit a report.

Regarding conditions of the schools in Karachi, the court was informed by the chief engineer of the education works department that the school buildings of Keamari and Malir districts were unsatisfactory and basic facilities were lacking.

The court directed the director general, planning, development and research, school education & literacy department to ensure that basic facilities were provided to the scattered areas of Karachi, particularly in two districts as pointed out in the report by the chief engineer of the education works department on a priority basis.

The focal person of the education department submitted that government high school pf Girhore Sharif and a government girls middle school have been upgraded to the level of higher secondary and high school. The provincial law officer submitted that the director general planning, development and research school education has been appointed and submitted the notification. The court observed that the education department shall ensure that acting charge of the DG shall not be provided to any person for the post which is the spine of the school education department and needs more emphasis.

The court directed the focal person of the education department to submit a report with regard to government teachers who were going to be retired within two years.

Regarding quality work in the construction of government schools in Mirpurkhas, Girhore Sharif, Kahai and Sanghar, the court observed that districts and sessions judges of Sanghar and Mirpurkhas would be competent to call the executive engineer and ensure that there is no compromise on the quality of work as per the mandate of the contract awarded to the contractor.

The court observed that the sessions judges would be competent to inspect the site through any magistrate by a surprise visit and in case of failure, they would be competent to report to the concerned secretary with regard to any negligence.