Not in time: PEC calls off fifth, eight grade exams

Move follows reports of English Language exam paper being leaked.

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) on Tuesday postponed fifth and eighth grade exams indefinitely after rumours that a paper was leaked a day earlier, official at Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Rawalpindi told The Express Tribune.

PEC, a body tasked with preparing exam papers and carrying out evaluations of students and teachers, cancelled the English Language exam.

Soon after the news of the exam paper being leaked, the body tried to print a new paper overnight, but could not pack, seal and deliver them in time, forcing the cancellation.

Around 1.2 million children were supposed to appear for the exam in 6,000 examination halls across the province.

PEC was supposed to prepare a comprehensive evaluation report of teachers and students’ weaknesses, performances and make recommendations for improvement.

However, not a single report, as claimed by teaching community, has been prepared by the body so far.

“PEC has failed to fulfill the expectations of academicians,” commented an educationist who requested not to be named. “Instead of improving, the system has further affected the performance of the students and teachers through its failed experiments,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2015.