1899 irregularities detected in teacher appointments since 1996 in G-B

GILGIT: An inquiry committee has unearthed massive irregularities in the recruitment of teachers in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), identifying as many as 1,899 cases of unlawful appointments since 1996.

The investigation was launched on the directives of Chief Secretary Abrar Ahmed Mirza, who tasked a high-level committee with scrutinising decades of recruitment records in the region’s education department.

A to a statement issued by the G-B information department on Thursday said after several weeks of what was described as “exhaustive and painstaking work,” the committee submitted its report. It  said that serious violations of rules and procedures had persisted for nearly three decades.

The inquiry found that in several cases appointments were made without adherence to the prescribed age criteria for government service. The statement said several individuals were recruited without the requisite professional qualifications or academic credentials.

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It revealed that appointments were approved without formal government notifications, and in many instances, mandatory verification of documents was completely bypassed. In some cases, the statement said, recruitment records and candidate documents were either incomplete or entirely missing from departmental files.

“The report confirms 1,899 clear irregularities in teacher appointments since 1996. Such practices undermined meritocracy and contributed to the decline in educational standards across the region,” reads the statement.

It observed that the findings highlight the urgent need for reforms in the recruitment process to restore transparency, accountability, and public trust in the education system.

The statement maintained that the inquiry reflects its commitment to ensure that future recruitments are strictly merit-based and transparent, with accountability mechanisms firmly in place.

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“The initiative will not only help improve the quality of education but also rebuild public confidence in government institutions,” the statement added. It urged citizens to support the administration’s “bold and corrective measures” aimed at educational reforms.