STI Merit Formula 2026 is not just a number — it is a process. Your marks were on the initial list on 23 October, but will they hold on 31 October? The answer depends on three stages: the tentative list, the objection window, and the interview. This article explains how the list changes at each stage, how ties are broken, and what candidates mean when they talk about STI Phase 3. It does not repeat the full mark-by-mark calculation — that is covered separately — it shows why a candidate can move up or down without any new marks.
What Is STI Phase 3?
The School Teacher Internship programme has been filled in rounds. Interns hired in the first and second rounds are usually called Phase 1 and Phase 2 STIs, and they continue in 2026-27 through fresh agreements without facing merit again. The fresh hiring approved on 25 September 2026 against vacant seats is the next round, which is why many candidates call it STI Phase 3. The department’s own documents refer to it as fresh hiring under the STI Program 2024, so you will not see “Phase 3” on the official portal.
The Merit Formula in Three Layers
Layer
When it applies
What counts
1. Academic merit
Initial (tentative) list, 23 Oct
Matric, Intermediate and highest relevant degree, converted to percentages
2. Professional qualification preference
Initial list
B.Ed, M.Ed or equivalent adds weight or decides close cases
3. Interview
Interviews, 29–30 Oct
A small number of marks from the school-level committee
The department has not released a separate public weightage table for 2026-27. The structure reported from the previous cycle is Matric 15, Intermediate 15, highest degree 55, professional qualification 10 and interview 5, total 100. Treat that as the reported structure, not as a confirmed 2026-27 official table — if your district applies a different split, the district list follows the district’s formula.
Each part is calculated pro-rata: (marks obtained ÷ total marks) × weight. For a CGPA degree, divide your CGPA by the scale (for example 3.20 ÷ 4.00 = 80%) and then apply the weight. Example: Intermediate 880/1100 = 80%, and 80% of 15 = 12 marks.
How the Tentative List Works
The tentative (initial) merit list displayed on school notice boards on 23 October is prepared school-wise and post-wise. For each vacant seat, applicants are ranked by academic merit and professional qualification, using the marks they entered in their application. Interview marks are not part of it yet.
It is provisional, so data-entry errors can still be fixed.
Being high on the list means you are likely to be called for interview at that school.
Your rank is compared only with candidates who applied to the same school and post, not the whole district.
How Objections Change the Merit
During the objection window (26–27 October), the tehsil-level committee checks complaints against documents. Typical corrections include wrong obtained or total marks, a missing professional qualification, or a degree entered against the wrong level. Approved corrections are applied before the final list, which is why some candidates move up or down without any new marks.
The Interview Layer
Shortlisted candidates are interviewed at the school on 29–30 October. The interview carries only a few marks, but in school-wise lists the top candidates are often separated by less than one mark, so a confident demo lesson can decide the seat.
Tie-Breaking: When Two Candidates Have the Same Marks
When totals are equal, preference generally goes to the candidate with the relevant professional qualification (B.Ed/M.Ed), and then to the higher academic qualification in the relevant subject. Some committees also prefer the candidate living closest to the school, since the internship has no travel allowance. Confirm the rule used in your school’s list with the head teacher.
A candidate second on the tentative list can finish first if a valid objection restores a missing professional qualification, while another candidate’s corrected total marks move them down. The lesson is simple: checking your own entry on the tentative list matters more than your rank on it.
Key Dates
Stage
Date
Initial (tentative) list
23 October 2026
Objections
26–27 October 2026
Interviews
29–30 October 2026
Final merit list
31 October 2026, 10:00 AM
Agreement letters
2 November 2026
Internship starts
3 November 2026
In short, the STI merit formula rewards accurate data more than anything else. Check your marks on the initial list, use the objection window if needed, and prepare well for the interview, because close cases are decided by fractions of a mark.
STI merit combines academic marks (Matric, Intermediate and highest degree, calculated pro-rata), preference for professional qualifications such as B.Ed or M.Ed, and a small interview score. The department has not published a separate weightage table for 2026-27.
Is STI merit calculated district-wise?
No. Merit is compared school-wise and post-wise, only with candidates who applied for the same seat.
Can my merit change after the tentative list?
Yes. Approved objections can correct your marks, and the interview score is added before the final list on 31 October 2026.
What is STI Phase 3?
It is the informal name for the fresh STI hiring of 2026-27 against vacant seats, after the earlier Phase 1 and Phase 2 rounds.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.
