Matriculation exams testing students on three fronts

Parents say that their children are being subjected to inhumane conditions

LAHORE/KARACHI:

With sweat rolling down their faces, students’ eyes dart from the fans to the clocks - if the pressure of passing their examinations with flying colours was not enough, they now have to brave the heat wave and power load shedding across Sindh and Punjab to be able to attempt the matriculation exams.

This testing season has increased the anxiety levels for students ten-fold as they are being tested on three fronts; load shedding affecting their preparation, the actual exam, and sitting the exam in intense heat. If all those factors were not enough, some are also complaining about the lack of clean drinking water being provided at examination centres.

In Punjab where there are 1.5 million students sitting for exams, parents are livid that their children are being subjected to such harsh conditions. “The weather is so severe that my son is unable to concentrate on studying and is instead worried about sitting the exam in this scorching heat,” complained Adnan Ijaz’s father as he stood outside a centre in Lahore waiting for his son to get free.

Another parent Noman, who was waiting on his daughter, said that if the provincial Department of Education could give relief in examinations during the coronavirus outbreak then they could have delayed these exams for another month to protect the students.

In Karachi, where 360,000 students are sitting for exams across 448 centres in the city, the situation is equally dire. Despite letters being written to K-Electric, students have to attempt exams in examination centres devoid of power.

Haider Ali, leader of All Private Schools Association in Karachi, told the Express Tribune that according to his information, most of the examination centres in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Landhi, Liaquatabad, Gulberg, Baldia, Orangi, Lyari and Gulistan-e-Jauhar were affected with the power load shedding.

Chairman of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi, Sharaf Ali Shah, when contacted about instances of load shedding in exam centres, conceded that it was in fact an issue despite the department checking on centres daily. “The students are upset. Apart from us, the Universities and

Boards Department also requested K-Electric not to carry out load shedding but they simply do not care,” an irate Shah remarked. On the other hand, despite students and parents complaining the Lahore Board spokesperson said that all was well in the province.

“We have directed superintendents and supervisory staff of all examination centres that fans must be installed. Ambulances are also on standby if any students are affected by the heat wave. Moreover clean drinking water is also being provided.” When the spokesperson was inquired about students’ complaints he said, “if we receive any complaints, we will rectify the situation but at present have not received any.”