JALALABAD (PAN): Members of the provincial council of eastern Nangarhar province on Tuesday criticised the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Department for what they called lack of transparency in an exam for 112 teacher posts.   

Up to 300 aspirants appeared in last week’s test held at a small hall of the IARCSC, the provincial council secretary, Dr. Lal Mohammad Durrani, told Pajhwok Afghan News. He said the exam was not transparent because the questionpapers were not sealed.

Optional answers to two mathematics and physics questions had not been printed and chemistry and biology answersheets tampered with, he alleged. Durrani said he had asked the invigilators to check the answer sheets in his presence, but his calls were rejected.

He asked the IARCSC main office in Kabul to retake the exam. Under Article 15 of the Constitution, the provincial council has the privilege to supervise exams for 3 to 8 grade posts, provincial IARCSC complaints officer, Abdullah, acknowledged.

He insisted representatives of the education, women’s affairs departments, as well as members of the provincial council, were present during the examination process. He accused Durrani of seeking favours for three of his relatives, a claim rejected by the public representative.  

Education department spokesman, Mohammad Asif Shinwari, said the environment for the test was transparent. He added their responsibility was to choose an efficient teacher and the IARCSC was to check answersheets and announce results.

mm/ma/mud