The Caretaker Sindh Government has introduced Pakistan’s first teaching license test as part of an initiative to enhance the quality of educators in public schools. The move aims to establish a culture of teaching excellence in Sindh and ensure that teachers meet a higher standard of qualifications. The teaching license test will be a prerequisite for candidates applying for grade-16 posts of elementary teacher for BEd (2.5/4 years) graduates.

Key Points:

• The teaching license test is introduced after the approval of the Sindh Teaching License Policy in May 2023.
• The policy aims to attract talented individuals to the teaching profession and raise its status.
• BEd (2.5/4 years) graduates will be eligible to apply for grade-16 posts after passing the teaching license test.
• BEd secondary (1.5 years) graduates will be eligible to apply for the Teaching License (Secondary) in subsequent testing cycles.
• The test is being conducted by the Sukkur Institute of Business Administration’s Testing Services, and online applications are accepted until January 11, 2024.
• Around 400 grade-16 vacancies of ‘elementary teacher’ have been created for BEd graduates in Sindh.

The teaching license test is seen as a crucial step in ensuring a more professional and qualified teaching workforce, aligning with international standards. The initiative aims to raise the bar for new entrants to the teaching profession and bring the same level of rigor and respect as other skill-based professions. The policy encourages professional training for new teachers and seeks to improve the overall quality of education in the province.