Inappropriate question: AIOU question paper setter delisted

Varsity also cancels question, answers will be awarded proportionate marks

ISLAMABAD: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has removed an official from the varsity’s panel for including an “inappropriate” question in the recently held Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations which caused public outrage.

In the Functional English paper of the AIOU SSC examinations held a few days ago, question No 5 required students to describe the characteristics of their elder sisters in terms of age, physique, height, looks and attitude.

The question sparked an uproar on social media after images of the question paper went viral.

The AIOU Vice-Chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui had subsequently constituted an inquiry committee to probe the inclusion of the inappropriate question in the exam.

Based on the committee’s recommendations, varsity announced on Monday that the paper-setter has been delisted from the university panel.

Furthermore, the question has been cancelled and proportionate marks would be awarded to students who attempted the exam.

Officials said the faculty member did not foresee the sensitivity of the issue and any possible reaction, hence the staffer has been banned from making question papers in the future.

A high-level committee comprising of senior academics has also been constituted by the varsity to propose a more effective paper-setting policy, and a filtration mechanism to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future, it said.         

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2016.