The Punjab government has introduced a new policy for conducting public examinations, allowing School Teacher Interns (STIs) and other trained temporary teachers to participate in paper checking and invigilation duties from the next examination session.
The decision, announced by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, aims to expand the pool of trained examination staff while strengthening the province’s examination management system.
Intern Teachers to Perform Examination Duties
Under the revised policy, eligible temporary educators will be assigned responsibilities such as:
- Paper checking (marking answer scripts)
- Invigilation during examinations
- Other examination-related duties
Officials said the initiative will apply to:
- School Teacher Interns (STIs)
- Intern teachers serving in schools and colleges
- Other qualified individuals meeting the prescribed criteria
The new policy will take effect from the next examination session.
Training Will Be Mandatory
Before being assigned examination responsibilities, participants will undergo formal training.
According to the Education Department, the program will include:
- Training for university graduates
- Capacity building for School Teacher Interns
- Examination management guidelines
- Paper-checking procedures
- Invigilation protocols
The training aims to ensure that all personnel are familiar with standardized examination practices before taking up their duties.
Policy Follows Ban on Private Teachers
The latest decision comes after the Punjab government barred private school teachers from performing official examination duties.
By including trained intern teachers, the government intends to compensate for the reduced availability of examination staff while maintaining smooth conduct of public examinations.
Why the New Policy Matters
Punjab conducts annual examinations for millions of students across schools and colleges, requiring a large number of trained personnel for:
- Supervising examination halls
- Marking answer sheets
- Managing examination centers
- Ensuring transparent assessment
Officials believe expanding the pool of trained invigilators and paper checkers will help improve the efficiency of examination operations and reduce staffing shortages.
Expected Impact on Future Examinations
The revised policy is expected to:
- Increase the number of trained examination staff
- Improve the availability of paper checkers and invigilators
- Support smoother conduct of annual examinations
- Provide practical professional experience to School Teacher Interns
Further operational guidelines, training schedules, and eligibility criteria are expected to be issued by the Punjab Education Department before the next examination cycle begins.
