The Sindh government has introduced a controversial administrative restructuring that splits the controlling authority of the province’s educational boards between the chief minister and the minister for universities and boards, creating what officials are calling an “unprecedented dual-command system” in the examination setup.
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Under the new arrangement approved by the provincial cabinet, chairpersons of all educational boards will now report directly to the chief minister, while operational oversight of controllers of examinations, board secretaries, and audit officers will remain with the minister for universities and boards. The change marks a significant shift in governance of Sindh’s education examination system.
Although an official notification is still pending, the decision has already sparked debate within bureaucratic and academic circles, with concerns being raised over fragmented accountability and administrative overlap. Critics question why partial authority was shifted instead of implementing a complete structural reform if governance issues were identified.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of several education boards in the province, particularly the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Mirpurkhas and the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK), both facing allegations of irregularities and mismanagement.
In Mirpurkhas, the controller of examinations is reportedly in custody of the Anti-Corruption Establishment over allegations of tampering with exam results and financial misconduct. Investigations have also linked senior officials to alleged monetary irregularities, including claims of large-scale unauthorized transactions described as “gifts,” while some officials are said to have obtained protective bail.
Meanwhile, the BSEK is under investigation following reported administrative failures during matriculation examinations, including alleged unjustified relocation of examination centres. A government inquiry committee has recommended action against senior officials, including the chairman and controller of examinations, prompting the chairman to resign.
The provincial government is now reportedly considering appointing a senior bureaucrat on an interim basis to stabilize the board’s operations amid ongoing investigations and administrative uncertainty.
