GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) School Education Department has initiated disciplinary action against teachers and school heads due to poor performance in the recently announced matriculation and elementary board results.
According to a notification issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan Services, General Administration, and Cabinet Department, initial action was taken against 25 school heads in Grade 17 and above. The penalties included forced retirement, demotion in pay scale, stoppage of one annual increment, and warnings.
The notification said that disciplinary proceedings against headmasters (HMs) and assistant headmasters (AHMs) were initiated under Rule-6(3) of the Gilgit-Baltistan Civil Servants Efficiency & Disciplinary (E&D) Rules, 2011, due to poor performance in the SSC-I 2024 annual results.
“Show cause notices were issued to the concerned AHMs and HMs by the School Education Department. The accused submitted their replies, which were reviewed by the competent authority. Subsequently, a personal hearing was conducted by the designated Personal Hearing Officer, Sayyed Abdul Waheed Shah (PAS/BS-19), Secretary of the Forest, Wildlife & Environment Department, GB,” the notification read.
MG Pakistan announces massive reduction in prices
The notification said after a thorough review of the records, performance reports, replies, and personal hearing statements, along with the recommendations submitted by the designated hearing officer, the Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan imposed penalties on the teachers with immediate effect.
According to the notification, eight school heads faced a reduction in pay scale by one stage, while two school heads were demoted by two stages. Five school heads were compulsorily retired, and four who had already retired from government service would now face disciplinary proceedings under the Federal Pension Rules.
In addition, the annual increments of three school heads were stopped, and three others were censured. Show cause notices and warning letters were issued to five Deputy Directors of Education (DDEs), while the annual increments of four DDEs were also stopped.
In a conversation with HUM News English, Director General of the School Education Department G-B, Faizullah Khan Lone, said action against 55 teachers in grades 14 and 16 for poor results in the SSC-I 2024 annual examination was underway with his office, as 20 teachers failed to respond to the initial summons.
“The hearing for 35 teachers has been conducted, while 20 teachers did not attend. I have given them time until Friday. If they still fail to appear, action will be taken against them,” he warned.
While talking about the poor results in the recently announced Board of Elementary Examination Gilgit-Baltistan (BEEGB) results for grades five and eight, he said that action against up to 150 teachers will be taken.
Addressing the confusion caused by separate notifications issued by the G-B Education Minister and the Chief Secretary, he clarified that currently, “remedial classes” were being conducted for re-examinations as announced by the Chief Secretary. Regarding the notification issued by the G-B Education Minister, he said that a meeting is scheduled for the 22nd of this month, where further decisions will be taken.
Last week, the G-B Education Ministry issued a notification reinstating the 33 per cent passing criteria for grades five and eight under BEEGB. According to the ministry’s decision, students failing in one optional subject will still be promoted, while those failing in one compulsory subject but securing more than 15 marks will also pass. Similarly, students failing in one compulsory subject with more than 20 marks and one optional subject with more than 15 marks will be promoted. To further support students, those securing 30 marks will receive three grace marks. The ministry also decided to conduct separate board papers for Geography and History.
However, the Chief Secretary decided to maintain the 40 per cent passing criteria. He said students must secure at least 40pc marks to pass any subject, and those failing in even one subject will be considered as failed. However, students failing in up to three subjects will be given another opportunity to prove their eligibility through re-examinations.