58% students fail to clear all subjects in BIEK XI commerce exam

15% grace marks elevate BIEK pass ratio to 42 per cent from 34 per cent

KARACHI:

A staggering 58 per cent of students have failed to pass all the seven subjects of Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) XI commerce exam, according to the results released by the board on Friday.

The dismal performance is after the addition of 15 per cent grace marks from the Sindh government; otherwise, per the original result 66 per cent students of Karachi failed to clear all the seven papers of BIEK Intermediate Part I Annual Examination for Commerce Regular Group 2023.

Like the Science Group students, the passing ratio of Commerce Group also turned out to be very low. Subsequently, on the recommendation of the Fact finding Committee, grace marks have been given to the students in four group subjects of the commerce group on the same pattern as science faculty. The initiative elevated the pass percentage to 42 per cent from 34 per cent.

According to the board results, 35,432 candidates got enrolled for Commerce Regular Group in 2023, from which 34,198 candidates appeared in the exams.

As per results, only 14,639 candidates passed in all seven papers. Among those who failed, 6,770 cleared six papers; 4,279 cleared five papers;2,848 cleared four papers; 2,024 cleared three papers; 1,672 cleared two papers, and 1,290 candidates succeeded in just one paper. The results have also been uploaded on the board's website www.biek.edu.pk.

According to the board announcement, grace marks were awarded in the light of the recommendations of the fact-finding committee formed under the direction of the BIEK chairman. As per recommendations, 15 per cent grace marks are given in four papers, comprising Principles of Accounting, Principles of Commerce, Principles of Economics and Business Mathematics, the core subjects of Commerce Regular Group of Intermediate Part I.

Earlier, the proportion of successful candidates was less due to strict marking in some places in the papers of commerce group, and due to higher ratio of MCQs in the papers. However, students, parents and political parties including Jamaat-e-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan had raised objections over the results and called for thorough investigation.

Subsequently, Sindh caretaker chief minister in his capacity as the controlling authority of Sindh Educational Boards had established a fact-finding committee on the complaints of students regarding the results of Science Pre-Medical, Pre-Engineering and Science General.

The committee had detected gross irregularities in the marking system and the software for checking the MCQs. The committee had recommended an inquiry by NAB or Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment against the BIEK top officers and controller examinations.

The government abstained from opening the can of worms against its own planted officers; however, to wipe the tears of the students, it gave 15 per cent grace marks in four subjects. After science group, students of commerce regular group have also been given 15 per cent grace marks in four subjects.

Meanwhile, revised mark sheets of science group students will also be sent to the colleges next week.