The recent controversies surrounding examination results in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi, underscore systemic issues within the country’s education sector. Concerns about the integrity and transparency of the examination process have been raised, with allegations of discrepancies and malpractices. In response, the Sindh Assembly has formed a committee to investigate the matter, address students’ grievances, and restore confidence in the system.
The education system falls in the “low” performance category, with a national average score of 53.46 on the District Education Performance Index (DEPIx). The learning domain, in particular, scores poorly, reflecting persistently low learning outcomes among students. The examination system is criticised for its inability to assess a wide range of learning outcomes and for lacking fairness, transparency and credibility. Excessive cheating and malpractice are common issues, undermining the integrity of examination results. Furthermore, the system primarily focuses on rote learning rather than higher-order cognitive skills, which is essential for a modern workforce.
Recent reforms include introducing a new grading system for SSC and HSSC, which aims to reduce competition by abolishing the ‘Fail’ grade and introducing “Unsatisfactory” instead. Additionally, students can now choose from various elective courses, and multiple-choice questions are being used in place of practical exams. However, these changes do not address the fundamental issues of transparency and fairness in the examination process, as well as the out-of-school children enigma. Of the 26.089 million children that are out of school, 10.855 million concern primary education alone. Furthermore, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for primary education is 78%, with significant disparities between genders and regions.
Also, the recent examination results in Pakistan, including those for matric and intermediate levels, reflect broader issues within the education system. Corruption in education significantly impacts the youth’s mindset and Pakistan’s progress as a developing country. The education system focusses on rote learning rather than practical skills, which can leave students unprepared for the job market.
Kainat Ahmed
Karachi
