NTS Has Earned Rs. 50 Million From Job Applicants Of Balochistan’s Education Department

QUETTA: Poor applicants of Balochistan have paid over Rs. 50 Million to National Testing Service (NTS), so far, for job applicants of education department only.

Balochistan government advertised vacancies of over 4,000 in education department in November. Rs. 1000 was set as the fee per application by Government of Balochistan. Fee for similar vacancies in Sindh provinces is a meager Rs. 30.

Over 50,000 applications have been submitted for vacancies in education department of Balochistan, said Khair Mohammad Shaheen, President of Balochistan School Teachers Union (BSTU).

“Government of Balochistan has hired NTS as a consultant to conduct tests for education department by violating government rules and Supreme Court rulings,” added Mr. Shaheen.

According to government rules a contact to a consultant firm can only be awarded once an open tender has been issued and bidding has taken place.

“NTS got the contract without any tender or bidding and thus the contract is illegal,” said chairman of BSTU.

“NTS is charging fee of RS. 30 in Sindh and Rs. 1000 in Balochistan for the same type of test, it’s a clear example of using recruitment tests to mint millions,” lamented Mr. Shaheen.

“Over 2000 staff of education department of Balochistan in all districts of the province is serving the NTS for free,” continued Mr. Shaheen.

It must be noted that Fee of Rs. 1000 per application was criticized by every section of the society, dozens of press statements were released against it. Still, Balochistan government didn’t reduce the test fee.

“It seems that someone in Balochistan government has received kickbacks from NTS to set a high fee for job applications,” alleged a job applicant who requested not to be named.

Staff Reporter

Published in The Balochistan Point on January 11, 2015