IBCC, federal govt unveil new promotion policy for students

Government elucidates national plans for grading students affected by the cancellation of board examinations in 2020

KARACHI: Following the government’s decision to cancel all board examinations in the wake of Covid-19, The Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), has drafted a promotion policy for direct grading of matric and intermediate students. Per sources, the new policy, which comes amid pandemic threat, has also been forwarded to and approved by the federal minister for education upon close review.

According to the latest developments in the promotion policy, in case of non-conduction of examinations, all regular and private students of grade IX and X will be directly promoted to grade X and XI respectively. While, no especial examinations will be conducted for students of grade IX and XI. However, students of grade X and XII who were to appear for board examinations in 2020 will be promoted based on their performance in the previous year. In addition to that, the transcript will only carry an aggregate score and will not include theory and practical numbers for part-II students. In the issuing mark sheet and the certificate, the board will explain that the marks awarded for part-II are in line with a fair estimate, approved by the concerned government and the IBCC.

Whereas, students meant to appear for grade X and XII examinations in the year 2021, will have their results announced for grade IX and XI on the basis of their performance in grade X and XII. However, students who disagree with promotion policy will still have the option to appear in special examinations between September to November; provided that they inform the board about the renunciation latest by July 1 and pay the examination fee.

Moreover, the limited number of students opting for grade improvement, additional subjects and combined examinations will not be a part of this policy. Special examinations will also be conducted for these students between September to November, with the permission of the concerned governments as per prevailing circumstances. With readjusted examination fees, students who have failed more than 40% of their subjects will also be able to opt for these special examinations, while universities will enroll these students in fall and spring semesters.

It is pertinent to mention here that a few educational boards in Punjab have already conducted their matriculation theory exams prior to the lockdown. For this situation the policy dictates that in cases where educational boards have already conducted an exam, they have with them the choice to either issue results in line with the latest IBCC guideline or as per their own assessment.

That being said, since educational boards do not exercise the authority to grant promotion without conduction examinations, per draft, an amendment from the assembly or a presidential ordinance will be passed on the matter for legal justification.

Sindh govt accepts federal policy with minor changes

On the other hand, accepting the federal government and IBCC’s promotion policy for Matric and Intermediate students, boards of education in Sindh have also handed over the promotion policy for students of class IX to XII to the provincial department of universities and boards. However, addressing a press conference yesterday, Sindh Education Minster Saeed Ghani expressed that he cannot say with surety whether or not the conditions in the coming three months would allow for conducting any board examinations. “So unlike federal policies, there are no plans for any special examinations in Sindh and all students who have failed last year in grade IX and XI will still be passed on Matric and Intermediate levels,” Ghani announced. “The students going ahead from grade IX to X will be promoted without any additional marks. However, students of grade X and XII will be awarded 3% additional marks in their final grade and only those students who want to opt for improvement of division will be allowed to take this exam next year,” he added.