In the first round of the competition for the positions of permanent chairman, secretaries, and controllers of examinations in nine education boards in Punjab, including the Rawalpindi board, 155 candidates have entered.

The deadline for applications for permanent appointments to these three important positions was established for December 31, 2025, by the Punjab Higher Education Commission.

For one to three years, all nine education boards were operating without permanent officers in these positions.

The boards' financial, administrative, and examination systems were badly impacted by the temporary leadership of junior and acting officers.

Applications were invited in accordance with the decision that tests and interviews would be used to fill these jobs after board workers voiced strong objections. The positions have been filled by highly skilled education officers, many of whom are women.

Three candidates per position will probably be contacted for tests and interviews once the process of reviewing the applications has been completed. It is anticipated that all nine boards' permanent nominations of chairmen, controllers of examinations, and secretaries will be finalized before the matriculation yearly examinations, which are now set to begin on March 26.

The matric exams, which were supposed to start on March 3, have been delayed because of Ramadan. The latest decision states that intermediate annual examinations will start on May 5 and matric annual exams will start on March 26.

In the meantime, on March 5, the Class VIII board test, which will be administered under PECTA following a five-year break, will begin.