Students give papers amid power supply cuts

Load shedding of electricity occurred in several examination centers during the annual examination of class 9 and 10 under the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK).

Students were forced to take the exam in extreme heat. Many narrated ordeal of sweat drops falling on exam paper and smearing the ink.

Moreover, students faced difficulties due to sudden change of many examination centers. BSEK Chairman Sharaf Ali Shah along with board staff and media visited Gulistan Shah Abdul Latif Boys Campus examination center and reviewed the arrangements.

BSEK Secretary Syed Muhammad Ali Shaikh and Controller Examination Habibullah Sahag were present on the occasion.

Shah, while talking to The Express Tribune, said students were forced to sit the exam in extreme heat due to the load shedding by K-E. "We had written a letter to K-E a week ago to ensure uninterrupted power supply during exam timings, but to no avail."

Regarding change of locations, Shah said that some private school owners refused to host exams at the eleventh hour due to which the students faced difficulties, but to avoid this problem, the superintendent has been instructed to allow them to solve the paper.

Students and parents said that the change of the center and non-supply of electricity has caused mental anguish.

Energy minister takes notice

Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh also took notice of the power outages during the matriculation examinations across the province.

In some districts like Sukkur, Nawabshah and Tharparkar temperatures were soaring to 38 to 40 degrees Celsius and attempting examination paper in such extreme heat was taxing on children's nerves as well as health.

Shaikh said power utilities should exempt the examination centers from load shedding. Electricity should be restored to the examination centers of the matriculation board immediately. There is a risk of damage to students' mental capacity and health due to load shedding of electricity in extreme heat.

Catching up on education

Arrangements were made for IX and X exams for the prisoners in the Karachi Central Jail as well. According to the jail authorities, the number of inmates taking the exams is 33. As many as 25 prisoners have appeared in the X and eight in the IX exams.

Separately, eight under-trial prisoners have also been released on bail to appear in the secondary school examination. Admit cards were provided to the released prisoners. According to prison teachers, there is no age limit in prison for acquiring education.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2023.