Mismanagement: Grade 5 paper delayed to avoid ‘leak’

Minister says examination system in the Punjab is of international standards.


Our Correspondent February 28, 2015
Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashhood. PHOTO: INP

LAHORE: Education Minister Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan said on Saturday the Punjab Examination Commission had delayed grade 5 English paper on February 24 because it was unable to provide question papers in six districts on time.

“Since winter holidays for schools were extended, the commission was unable to provide questions papers in all districts,” he told a press conference at the commission’s office. He said the commission had postponed exams in all districts to ensure secrecy of the question paper. On February 24, students had arrived to take the examination when they were told that it would be given the next day. The delay had inconvenienced nearly 2.2 million students. The commission has now announced a new date sheet for grade 5 and 8 examinations. The test is compulsory for government schools and optional for private schools. Khan said that apart from the English paper, all other exams had been conducted on time in line with the new schedule. “Today, the science examination is being given… all centres have received the question paper on time,” he said. Khan said the examination system in the Punjab met international standards. “An online registration system has been introduced this year to help keep record of all students,” the minister said.

The minister was asked about the efficacy of the system as last year a question paper was leaked and a student who had not appeared in the examination was awarded first position. Khan said the system was still new and that the commission was trying its best to resolve the problems. He said the commission had already implemented recommendations of the committees that had investigated such problems last year. He said the government had blacklisted five presses printing examination papers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2015.

COMMENTS (1)

syed @ syed | 9 years ago | Reply Please do not give lame excuses. You should be ashamed and resign. Give the seat to a qualified person.
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