Universities should have special quota for A Levels’ students and decision should be taken at the earliest
JHANG: A Levels’ students are often at a disadvantage as they are put in the same lot as Intermediate students, and the equivalence of grades is done on the same basis and grades scale. This is unfair because our Matric and Intermediate programmes are not a good test of knowledge, understanding, and learning.
They are used for ranking students according to scores, which is based on memorising and reproducing the course book text in the exams; and do not accurately depict students’ skill levels.
However, the O and A Levels’ syllabi are based on conceptual and comprehensive learning. The courses are tough, marking is strict and students are academically on a par with students around the world.
When A Levels’ students have their marks converted through an equivalence certificate issued by the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), in order to compete with Intermediate students for admissions to local universities, their scores get undermined. If one achieves straight A’s in his O and A Levels, his score after equivalence will add up to 935, whereas a student of FSc or FA will have a score of 1,000 or above.
A few weeks ago, I saw a headline in an old edition of a leading daily that the IBCC is to remove the requirement of equivalence certificates for A Levels following a court decision. However, I later found out that the IBCC had stated it would still continue with the equivalence, and the previous news was incorrect.
Universities admit students on the basis of merit. Medical and engineering colleges give sufficient weightage to these scores. Even their entrance tests are based on the Intermediate syllabus and pattern, and A Levels’ students have to study twice the material. Despite all this hard work, they are unable to secure a seat because of the equivalence.
Many friends of mine have gone abroad because of this reason. I was also persuaded to go for FSc, following my O Levels, but I was not ready to leave my alma mater, Aitchison College. However, today I regret not doing so. Universities should have a special quota for A Levels’ students and the authorities concerned should take a decision at the earliest.
M Ali Hussain Dogar
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2019.
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