Sindh minister extends teachers recruitment phase until June 30

Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah on Friday extended the ongoing teachers recruitment phase until June 30 across the province.

The decision was made during the annual review meeting of the Sindh School Education Department, chaired by the education minister. The huddle also decided to address salary and database issues for newly recruited teachers.

The meeting, held in the Sindh Assembly Auditorium, decided that absent teachers would be dismissed permanently.

During the session, the education minister emphasised the need for school education officials to adopt a serious and honest approach to effectively implement government policies and reforms in the education sector.

The meeting was informed that 78,441 candidates who passed the IBA test have been issued offer letters, including 55,566 for Primary School Teachers (PST) and 22,875 for Junior Elementary School Teachers (JEST).

So far, appointment orders have been issued to 75,646 candidates, of which 73,994 have joined their posts. However, 10,366 teachers opted for other jobs, including those who joined JEST positions after initially securing PST posts or those who passed the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) exams.

At present, 63,628 teachers are actively employed, while many candidates are still on the waiting list in various districts.

In view of the situation, the minister, after consulting officials, approved extending the recruitment phase until June 30, 2025. He stated that the recruitment process was delayed due to the caretaker government, flood-related challenges, and other issues, while schools are facing a shortage of teachers, necessitating an extension of the hiring deadline.

The minister also ordered the prompt completion of the database for newly hired teachers, addressing complaints about salary delays. He warned that action would be taken against officials responsible for delays in database updates.

Furthermore, around 5,000 teachers who have been permanently absent will be given a final 15-day notice to return to work. If they fail to do so, they will be dismissed from their jobs, as there is no room for non-serious teachers in the department, he added.

During the meeting, the minister reviewed the availability of textbooks in schools with the chairman of the Sindh Textbook Board.

He highlighted the book bank initiative, aimed at preserving textbooks for reuse. To ensure this, schools must return 50% of textbooks by the end of the academic year, with headmasters responsible for implementing the policy under the supervision of education officers.

Failure to meet this target will result in action against the concerned officials, warned the minister.