Karachi, February 02, 2024 : In a shocking revelation, an inquiry committee appointed by Sindh Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar has exposed serious irregularities in the Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi (BIEK). The findings point towards result tampering in the Annual Examination 2022 and a host of financial mismanagement issues.
The inquiry committee unearthed instances of tampering in the results of the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) Annual Examination 2022. Disturbingly, pre-medical science groups’ award lists were manipulated, with students’ marks inflated by cutting others’ marks. The committee identified 31 students affected by this fraudulent practice.
Financial misconduct was also laid bare, with the absence of object-wise classification in BIEK’s accounts and the revelation of unauthorized bank accounts. The Board’s accounting practices were found to be incomplete and lacking proper records, violating financial rules.
The committee employed a random sampling method to scrutinize HSC Annual Examinations for 2021, 2022, and 2023. This revealed a pattern of tampering across various examination cycles. The incomplete record provided by BIEK raised concerns about transparency and accountability.
The inquiry committee discovered overwriting and cutting in scripts, award lists, and tabulation registers during the examination of answer scripts for HSC Annual Examination 2023. Shockingly, copies required for inquiry purposes were not held back by the Chairman and Controller Examination, leading to the destruction of crucial evidence.
Financial rules were violated as the committee found huge cash withdrawals amounting to Rs183,995,681, with no bank reconciliation performed. Excessive petrol (POL) ceilings for BIEK officers, including an unexplained increase in the Chairman’s POL ceiling from 400 to 800 liters, raised eyebrows. Unauthorized bank accounts were also discovered.
The reimbursement of medical bills was found to be in violation of rules, with bills not subjected to the required examination and verification. Anomalies were observed in service matters, appointments, promotions, and upgradations of BIEK employees, raising concerns about fair practices.
The inquiry committee recommended penalties, including cautioning the ex-controller examination and withholding increments for certain individuals. However, previous recommendations by inquiry committees were not implemented, revealing a lack of accountability within BIEK.
As the scandal unfolds, the Chief Minister’s Inquiry Team (CMIT) urges swift action against the responsible officers to prevent future incidents. The integrity of the education system in Karachi hangs in the balance, demanding urgent intervention to restore trust and transparency.
