Education ministry announces traditional measures for matric, inter exams

KARACHI:

Board exams for matriculation and intermediate will be held in May. To ensure the integrity of exams, section 144 will be enforced around exam centres, and mobile phones will be confiscated if found inside centers. This decision was made in a meeting chaired by Sindh Education Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah and Universities and Boards Minister, Muhammad Ali Malkani.

The meeting reviewed arrangements for upcoming exams, including the deployment of vigilance teams to monitor exams and the use of technology to prevent cheating. Secretary Universities and Boards, Noor Ahmed Samo, Secretary School Education, Zahid Ali Abbasi, Secretary College Education, Sadaf Anees Sheikh, chairpersons of various examination boards, and other relevant officials attended this meeting.

Chairpersons of boards briefed participants on preparations for upcoming exams. It was informed that matriculation exams will commence from the first week of May, while intermediate exams will begin in the last week of May.

In Karachi, 250 exam centers have been set up for matriculation exams, where 350,198 candidates will appear, while 290,220 candidates will appear for intermediate.

Universities and Boards Minister, Muhammad Ali Malkani said that the Sindh government is serious about improving the examination system and will take all necessary steps to achieve this goal. He added that the government will seek the help of the Home Department to ensure security arrangements during exams.

It was decided that vigilance teams would play an effective role in monitoring exams. If any paper is leaked, action will be taken against the chairperson of the relevant board.

It was decided that bringing mobile phones to exam centers would be strictly prohibited. If a mobile phone is found, it will be confiscated.

Shah said that preventing cheating is everyone's responsibility; parents, teachers, administrators, and society. The Education Department will provide all possible support to boards to ensure the successful conduct of exams.

The minister also announced that third-party assessment will be conducted to ensure accuracy and transparency of exam results. This will help address any complaints about the marking of papers.

Digitisation of board records, assessment of exam papers, and other arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of exams were also discussed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2024.