Last reviewed: September 28, 2026
At STI.org.pk, we believe candidates should understand not only what we publish, but where it comes from and how we checked it. This page explains the sources we rely on, how we rank them, the evidence we require for each type of claim, and the process we follow before a page is published or updated.
STI recruitment information changes with every cycle — new advertisements, district-wise vacancies, merit criteria, list displays, joining dates and stipend decisions. A single search result or WhatsApp message is never enough. We use a layered process so that the strongest available evidence always decides what we publish.
STI.org.pk is an independent publisher, not part of the School Education Department Punjab, PESRP/PMIU, the STI portal or any other authority.
Our Source Hierarchy
| Level | Source type | What it can establish |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Official STI portal and department websites | Source of record for eligibility, procedures, lists and official status |
| Level 2 | Official advertisements, notifications, merit-list notices, verified official social accounts | Confirmation of new cycles, dates, stipends and changes |
| Level 3 | Established Pakistani news organisations | Discovery, context and secondary confirmation |
| Level 4 | Candidate questions and search data | What readers need explained — never the answer itself |
| Level 5 | Social media, WhatsApp and Facebook groups | Leads and real-world problems only — never proof |
Level 1: Official Sources We Rely On
| Authority | Official channel | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Official STI portal | sti.pesrp.edu.pk | Registration, login, applications, district vacancies, merit and results |
| PESRP / PMIU | pesrp.edu.pk | Programme notices and education-reform updates |
| School Education Department Punjab | schools.punjab.gov.pk | Policy, notifications, stipend and contract decisions |
| District Education Authorities (CEO Education) | Official district notices | District-level lists, interviews and joining |
| Government of Punjab | punjab.gov.pk | Provincial announcements and approvals |
| Higher Education Commission (HEC) | hec.gov.pk | Degree equivalence and attestation questions |
| Boards / testing bodies | Official BISE, PPSC and testing-agency websites | Results and other education recruitment |
We never assume that a rule for one district, subject or cycle applies everywhere, and we never treat rules from other teacher-recruitment schemes as STI rules.
Level 2: Official Documents and Announcements
We also use official advertisements, notifications, merit-list notices, policy documents and posts from confirmed official accounts. When an announcement applies only to certain districts, subjects or a single recruitment phase, we keep that detail rather than presenting it as a province-wide rule.
Level 3: Established Pakistani News Reporting
Established outlets — such as Dawn, The Express Tribune, Geo News, The News International, Business Recorder, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and ProPakistani — can provide early alerts and context. We use news reporting to discover developments and locate the underlying official source. When we rely on news alone, the page says so (“According to [outlet]…”).
For our general News section, stories first reported by another outlet are rewritten in our own words, checked where possible against the official source, and credited to the original publisher.
Level 4: Candidate Questions and Search Research
- Google Search Console data from our own website.
- Related searches and “People also ask” results.
- Questions left in comments and sent through our Contact Us page.
These tell us what to investigate. They never decide the correct answer — a frequently searched rumour is not proof.
Level 5: Social Media, WhatsApp and Facebook Groups
Candidate groups quickly surface real problems — a portal error, a missing district list, confusion about merit marks. We treat these as leads only. A WhatsApp message cannot confirm a new STI advertisement; a Facebook post cannot confirm a stipend increase. Significant claims are investigated separately against official sources.
Evidence Required for Each Type of Claim
| Claim | Minimum evidence | If unavailable |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility (degree, age, domicile) | Level 1 or Level 2 | Not stated as fact; candidate told to confirm |
| Stipend amount / duration | Level 1 or Level 2 | “Not officially announced” |
| Application / list / interview dates | Level 2 with date | Labelled “reported” with outlet named |
| Portal URL, helpline | Level 1 + tested by us | Not published |
| Merit formula / weightage | Official advertisement or policy | Described generally with official link |
| Number of vacancies | Official notice | Attributed to reporting outlet |
Our Verification Process
- Define the candidate’s question precisely.
- Identify the responsible authority (STI portal, SED Punjab, PESRP, District Education Authority).
- Find the strongest available evidence — portal notice, advertisement or notification.
- Check the date: has a newer notice replaced it?
- Check the scope: whole province, specific districts, subjects or phase?
- Cross-check with credible reporting where the official source is unclear or new.
- Test it ourselves: open every official link and confirm contact details are current.
- Label the status: confirmed, announced, reported or unconfirmed.
- Write in plain language, with steps, tables or FAQs.
- Review, publish, then monitor and update when anything changes.
Worked Example: Checking a Viral Claim
Scenario: a WhatsApp message says “STI final merit list released — download here: [link]”.
| Step | What we do | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check the link’s domain | Not the official portal → treated as suspicious |
| 2 | Check the official STI portal | No final list displayed |
| 3 | Check official department and district accounts | No announcement |
| 4 | Search credible news outlets | No reports |
| 5 | Decision | Not published; candidates warned to use only the official portal |
If the portal had displayed the list, we would update the relevant guide with the official date and link directly to the portal.
How We Test Portals and Links
- Official links are opened and checked for the correct domain before publication and during reviews.
- Contact details are taken from official sources, not copied from other websites.
- Portal screenshots are taken with personal information removed.
- We never log in or apply on anyone’s behalf.
Proposed, Announced and Implemented Are Different
A new STI cycle or stipend change may be discussed, proposed, formally announced, and only later implemented. We keep these stages separate and never present a plan as “applications open” or “stipend increased” unless that is confirmed.
Stipends, Merit Marks and Figures
These are the most sensitive facts we publish. We quote figures exactly as officially stated, note when they depend on district, subject or cycle, and avoid presenting any figure as guaranteed for every candidate.
Urdu-Language Sources
Many notices and news reports are in Urdu. We translate carefully so official terms keep their exact meaning, and check that Urdu and English versions agree before relying on either.
Review Schedule
| Content | Re-checked | Early re-check triggered by |
|---|---|---|
| Active application guides | Weekly during open cycles | Portal or advertisement change |
| Merit list & result pages | On each official display | New list or schedule |
| Eligibility & stipend pages | Each recruitment cycle | New notification |
| Evergreen explainers | Every 6 months | Reader-reported error |
| Official links on all pages | Monthly | Broken-link report |
AI-Assisted Research
AI tools may help organise notes, structure articles or improve readability. AI output is never a source, and confident-sounding AI text is not accepted as proof of any rule, date or figure. Every important fact is checked by a person against the sources above.
We Do Not Copy Our Sources
We verify facts, explain them in our own words and add practical context — steps, common mistakes and where to get help — rather than reproducing other websites’ text.
Linking to Sources
Where a source helps readers verify information themselves, we link to it — official sources first, then credible reporting. We do not link to unofficial “apply here” websites. Our wider standards are set out in our Editorial Policy, and the people responsible are listed on our Editorial Team page.
Limitations
Portals can change without notice, some decisions are announced only at district level, and practice can differ between districts. When we cannot confirm something, we say so clearly.
What Candidates Should Verify Directly
- Your own application status and merit position.
- District-specific vacancies, interview dates and joining instructions.
- Your stipend status and contract details.
- Any deadline or document requirement that affects you.
The official STI portal and the responsible department are always the source of record.
Corrections From Readers
We welcome credible corrections through our Contact Us page. Please include the page URL, the disputed statement, the correct information and, if possible, the official source — but not your CNIC or portal password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does STI.org.pk get its information?
Mainly from the official STI portal, the School Education Department Punjab, PESRP/PMIU and District Education Authorities, supported by credible Pakistani news reporting.
Do you publish updates from WhatsApp groups?
No. Social-media claims are leads only and are published as fact only if an official source confirms them.
Why does your information sometimes differ from other websites?
We follow the latest official notice rather than other websites. If you notice a difference, check the official portal and tell us so we can review the page.
Our Core Research Principle
Discovery can begin anywhere. Verification must end with the strongest available evidence.
Independent Publisher Notice
STI.org.pk is an independent informational website. We are not affiliated with, operated by, authorised by, or endorsed by the School Education Department (SED) Punjab, the Punjab Education Sector Reform Programme (PESRP / PMIU), the official STI portal, any District Education Authority, the Government of Punjab, the Government of Pakistan, or any recruitment or testing agency. Programme and portal names are used only to identify and explain public services. For official applications, merit lists, results, joining orders and stipend matters, always use or confirm with the official STI portal and the responsible department.