Matric, Inter exams to be held on same ‘paper pattern’
The Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) has decided that matriculation and intermediate examinations will be conducted on the same “paper pattern” without any change across the country.
A meeting of the committee rejected the proposal to conduct examinations of IX and XI grades based on multiple choice questions (MCQs). However, the papers will be based on smart syllabus.
The meeting was chaired by IBCC — the official forum comprising the education boards of the four provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir under the federal government — Steering Committee Chairman and Aga Khan Board Chairman Shehzad Jeeva, and attended by IBCC Secretary Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah.
Other attendees of the meeting included, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Sahiwal Chairman Muhammad Shafiq, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Bannu Chairman Sharif Gul, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Board of Secondary and Intermediate Education Mirpur Chairman Professor Qazi Muhammad Ibrahim and Islamabad IBCC Director Zafar Mahmood Malik.
Attendees of the meeting maintained their respective boards started preparation of papers for matriculation and intermediate level and they were not considering any changes in the paper pattern as last quarter of academic session started and any change at this stage would be impossible.
They noted, however, the papers would be taken on the basis of "smart syllabus" or short syllabus and the respective boards had released model papers on their websites.
During the course of meeting, it was informed that officials received a number of questions from students across the country regarding paper pattern, while many other students also raised the issue in the online “open katchehries” recently set up by Federal Minister of Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood.
It was then decided that the issues related to question papers of matriculation and intermediate examination should be resolved on priority and students would be informed of the decision immediately.
Confirming the month of examination for matric and inter grades, the IBCC secretary said the exams across the country would start in May and June respectively after Eidul Fitr.
On this occasion, the IBCC chairman raised a question regarding the timely release of examination results, saying it took at least three months to check and grade the papers according to the current paper pattern.
“The whole academic cycle is dependent on the timely release of intermediate results,” he added.
However, members of the meeting claimed they had the capacity to release examination results in August this year.
Commenting on the issue of timely release of results, a member of the meeting said, from the commencement of examinations to the release of results, 130 days were required and it might take three more weeks to start the next session, while the government wanted the new session to be started in August 2021 without any delay.
Another attendee of the meeting suggested that the examinations of IX and XI grades should be conducted on the basis of MCQs so that the preparation of results could be done ahead of schedule and the sessions of the X and XII grades could commence on time.
However, the proposal was rejected, saying some students of X and XII had to attempt supplementary examinations of the earlier grade and it would be difficult for them to solve papers on two different patterns at the same time.
During the course of meeting, IBCC chairman clarified that the meeting was convened to adopt a joint strategy so every decision would be taken by all the units on board.
He further said Sindh Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen could also be taken on board on the issue.