Announcing a relief for students amid complaints of the pandemic-induced learning losses, the education minister Shafqat Mehmood said boards were preparing to conduct exams from June 24 and now, to facilitate students, we have asked them to begin board exams after July 10.
He also asked boards to keep some gaps between the exams. He explained the government had taken several steps; to ease the process on the students as the educational institutions could not complete the course work.
The education minister stressed taking board exams of classes 10 and 12 first — from July 10 — and then conducting the examinations of classes 9 and 11 once they end.
Elective exams
The minister, explaining the decision during a press conference in Islamabad, said only four exams, including math for ninth and matric, will be conducted. These include biology, computer science, physics, and chemistry.
No student would be awarded grades without attempting examinations this year, the education minister stressed. Adding: “If we do not conduct the board exams, then students will not even employ minimum efforts to study.”
The marks percentage taken by students in elective subjects will also be proportionately allocated to subjects in which exams is not being taken https://t.co/0G6wimifzQ
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) June 2, 2021
Mehmood’s press conference came after he chaired a meeting of the provincial education ministers and officials from the education departments, according to the education ministry.
He also appreciated the efforts of the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) during the pandemic. The IPEMC played an active role during the pandemic; may it be the closing or opening of schools and conducting exams.
We would access classes 11 and 12 on only elective subjects, said Mehmood. “This decision will make the board examination easier for students.”
The minister said the students will take elected exams as students aspiring to opt for a selected field; the assessment will be on the basis of their selected subject.
Results and classes
The government wants all the board results to issue by the third week of September so the timely issuance of results will help the students secure admissions in universities.
The education minister noted; the government had decided to shut down schools because it had become necessary due to the coronavirus situation. “We then reduced the syllabus by 40%.”
The minister said; educational institutions are conducting the classes of 10 and 12, and now, we will conduct the classes of 9 and 11 as well.
Mehmood said no teacher invigilating the board exams can perform their duties without getting the coronavirus vaccine so that is why the government has begun their inoculation on a priority basis.
He assured the provinces in this regard and asked them to seek assistance if they face any setbacks. The minister noted that if the people affiliated with the education sector were vaccinated, it would be easier for the government to reopen them.
Considering the A-Level students, who will take their exams in October and November, for provisional admissions. The minister stated; authorities would be urged to allow students, who were about to give exams in the near future, to attempt the entry tests for engineering, MDCAT, and other medical exams.
Final decision
The final decision is that the education ministry will take exams no matter what happens. He assured to have taken into consideration students’ concerns and given relaxations.
The education minister said; the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) played an active role during the pandemic; may it be the closing or opening of schools and conducting exams.
The minister, after he concluded the press conference, announced; that the IPEMC had taken some important decisions regarding educational institutions and board exams today.