Call to allow enrolment of private students in science group

Education boards of other provinces have already approved the facility

KARACHI:

Private students, who are not enrolled in any school and receive home schooling, in Sindh should be permitted to sit for science subjects in the secondary and high school certificate exams, stated a senior official of the committee of the education boards of the country.

Under the current regulations, only students registered with a school affiliated with a board of education are eligible to apply for the science group, while home schooling students are restricted to commerce and humanities.

Recently, education boards in other provinces have decided to allow private students to participate in matriculation and intermediate exams for the science group, with annual examinations being held twice a year, according to Inter-Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC) Secretary Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah. "The Sindh Education Department should extend these decisions' benefits to the students in the province."

Mallah mentioned that the education boards in Sindh require the approval of the steering committee of their board of governors to implement the decision of allowing private candidates to enroll in the science group and conduct annual exams twice a year. "Therefore, the matter needs to be raised in the relevant forum."

He stated that the IBCC has been transformed into a commission after 51 years, with an act regarding this being approved by the national assembly. He expressed these views during a press conference at IBCC's Karachi camp office on Friday.

He added that the IBCC has recently implemented a series of extensive reforms to enhance administrative efficiency. The automation of the examination system is a top priority for the IBCC. These reforms will contribute to improving the education system and simplifying the process for all stakeholders, including staff and students.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2023.