Cambridge announces schedule for O, A level exams
May and June exams cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
May and June exams cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) has issued the schedule for its November 2020 examinations for O and A level students around the world, including Pakistan, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It is expected that number of students participating in the November exams will be much higher after examinations of May and June were cancelled this year.
After the cancellation, Cambridge and the British Council failed to give students a clear method of grading in examinations as a result a large number of students opted for the examinations in November.
As per the schedule, the November series examination will start in Pakistan from October 1st, however, practical examinations of some subjects have been scheduled within the period between July to October.
The schedule for the upcoming exams was released at a time when the number of coronavirus infections in Pakistan is on the rise.
On the other hand, with an increasing number of Covid-19 patients in the country, it looks extremely difficult to hold practical examinations in the month of July, August, and September.
As per the announcement, practical exams for art and design subject have been scheduled from July 1, first language English from September 1 to October 27, food and nutrition from September 1 to October 31, digital media and design practices are also scheduled from July 1.
Considering the stats given by senior government officials, it is likely that by July 12, the number of coronavirus cases in the country may reach up to 12 million. After the speculations of Covid-19 data. it seems extremely difficult for Pakistan to conduct Cambridge exams in October and practicals from the month of July.
On condition of anonymity, a school principal told The Express Tribune that the CAIE has issued the exams schedule according to its tradition so that students should be aware of the exams already, "but we school principals are certain that the current examination series in November will also be postponed".
"The Sindh government is not ready to allow any school to open for teaching or examination," he added.
However, the Sindh government had promoted matriculation and intermediate students without examinations, but it did not indicated the fate for Cambridge students.
The proposal for conducting the test had been dismissed by the provincial authorities, maintaining that it cannot say what would happen to the pandemic situation in the province in November.
The Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) has issued the schedule for its November 2020 examinations for O and A level students around the world, including Pakistan, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It is expected that number of students participating in the November exams will be much higher after examinations of May and June were cancelled this year.
After the cancellation, Cambridge and the British Council failed to give students a clear method of grading in examinations as a result a large number of students opted for the examinations in November.
As per the schedule, the November series examination will start in Pakistan from October 1st, however, practical examinations of some subjects have been scheduled within the period between July to October.
The schedule for the upcoming exams was released at a time when the number of coronavirus infections in Pakistan is on the rise.
On the other hand, with an increasing number of Covid-19 patients in the country, it looks extremely difficult to hold practical examinations in the month of July, August, and September.
As per the announcement, practical exams for art and design subject have been scheduled from July 1, first language English from September 1 to October 27, food and nutrition from September 1 to October 31, digital media and design practices are also scheduled from July 1.
Considering the stats given by senior government officials, it is likely that by July 12, the number of coronavirus cases in the country may reach up to 12 million. After the speculations of Covid-19 data. it seems extremely difficult for Pakistan to conduct Cambridge exams in October and practicals from the month of July.
On condition of anonymity, a school principal told The Express Tribune that the CAIE has issued the exams schedule according to its tradition so that students should be aware of the exams already, "but we school principals are certain that the current examination series in November will also be postponed".
"The Sindh government is not ready to allow any school to open for teaching or examination," he added.
However, the Sindh government had promoted matriculation and intermediate students without examinations, but it did not indicated the fate for Cambridge students.
The proposal for conducting the test had been dismissed by the provincial authorities, maintaining that it cannot say what would happen to the pandemic situation in the province in November.