Sukkur :
Candidates who secured between 50 and 54 marks in the Junior Science Teacher (JST) test in Sukkur have urged the Government of Sindh, the School Education Department, IBA Sukkur and other relevant authorities to reduce the passing marks for the JST test from 55 to 50. They said the move would provide thousands of eligible candidates with equal opportunities for employment.
In a statement, the candidates said approximately 5,200 applicants obtained between 50 and 54 marks in the JST test. However, they were declared ineligible for the next stage because the passing threshold had been set at 55 marks. They argued that the decision was unfair to thousands of candidates and was also inconsistent with recruitment criteria adopted in the past.
The candidates pointed out that a passing criterion of 50 percent or even lower had previously been applied in various government recruitment tests and examinations. They cited JEST 2018, where the passing threshold was 50 percent, as well as the Teaching License examination, which also had a 50 percent passing criterion. They further stated that different PST/JEST tests had used passing standards ranging from 33 to 40 percent, while HST, SST, Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) and other IBA examinations had also maintained comparatively lower passing thresholds.
In this context, the candidates said imposing a requirement of 55 marks specifically for JST was unfair and discriminatory.
The statement further said that 50 percent is generally considered a reasonable, fair and acceptable passing standard. They urged the Sindh government and the Education Department to review the decision in accordance with the principles of merit, justice and equal opportunity and reduce the JST passing marks from 55 to 50.
The candidates demanded that all eligible applicants who secured between 50 and 54 marks also be included in the recruitment process so that their hard work does not go to waste and available science teaching positions across the province can be filled purely on merit.
The JST candidates appealed to Sindh Chief Minister, Sindh Education Minister, Secretary School Education, IBA Sukkur and other relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the issue, review the passing criteria and provide justice to thousands of candidates, keeping in view the principle that “50 percent is a fair and acceptable passing standard.”
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