Grace marks proposed for 1st year students who failed in exams

Fact-finding committee tasked to scrutinise BIEK results submits report to minister

KARACHI:

The fact-finding committee established by the Sindh Assembly to scrutinise the results of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) has recommended the grant of grace marks to the first year students who failed in the annual exams.

A detailed report submitted by the committee to Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah provides an analysis of the results, the evaluation process, and the overall academic status of the BIEK and affiliated colleges. The committee recommended the grant of grace marks, ranging from 15 to 20 per cent, to first-year students who failed in the exam.

The committee also proposed a review of the results from other education boards in the province. Sources within the Sindh government said that the relevant assembly committee will soon make a decision based on the findings of this report. The decision will influence the participation of first-year students in the annual examinations, scheduled to begin on April 15.

The committee was tasked with investigating the unexpected low BIEK results, where less than 30% of students passed. The committee was headed by Dr Sarosh Lodhi, VC of NED University.

The committee invited a group of 20 students who failed the first-year exam despite achieving A1 grades in their Matriculation exams. Only five of these students appeared, accompanied by their parents. The students' exam copies were examined in front of their parents, where it was noted that some students made basic errors, such as writing "Karachi" with a "C" instead of a "K."

The committee's report laid bare several issues with the assessment process, including errors in totaling marks, and problems in the tabulation and data entry stages. The committee questioned the disparity in results between Karachi and other boards, especially given that the syllabus and government-appointed teaching staff are uniform across the region.

The committee suggested awarding additional marks in certain subjects: 15% for Physics and Mathematics, and up to 20% for Chemistry. However, grace marks were not recommended for Zoology, Botany, Islamic Studies, or Pakistan Studies.