The future of thousands of students in Karachi hangs in the balance due to the delay in issuing a notification regarding grace marks for students who failed in the HSC first-year exams. Approximately 100,000 students preparing for their intermediate examinations under the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) remain unaware of the final exam schedule and their centre details. Despite exams being scheduled to begin on April 28, the Board has not released the necessary information due to the absence of a chairman.
A committee formed by the Sindh Assembly, led by Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, recommended granting up to 20 per cent grace marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics to first-year Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical students who were declared failed last year. This recommendation was based on a fact-finding committee's report led by former Vice Chancellor of NED University Dr Sarosh Lodhi.
The decision was announced via a press conference, where it was stated that the Department of Universities and Boards would prepare a summary for the Chief Minister's approval, after which a formal notification would be issued. However, more than 20 days have passed, and the department has yet to release the notification.
As a result, around 50,000 students from Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical groups are still uncertain whether they will receive grace marks or need to retake their first-year exams. This lack of clarity is causing widespread anxiety and hampering their preparation for the upcoming second-year exams.
Compounding the issue is the absence of a chairman at BIEK. The previous acting chairman, Professor Sharaf Ali Shah, was retired, and the newly appointed chairman has not yet assumed office. The Sindh government appears indecisive about officially assigning the role to the expected candidate, Faqeer Lakho, currently serving as Regional Director of Colleges in Karachi.
The exam forms for second-year students - due to appear on April 28 - have already been submitted, including details of any first-year subjects they failed. If grace marks are awarded now, the Board would have to re-tabulate results, reprint mark sheets, and distribute them to students - a process that would take at least a month.
When contacted by The Express Tribune, Secretary of the Department of Universities and Boards Abbas Baloch did not respond.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Acting Controller of Examinations Zarina Choudhry stated that while exam preparations are complete, the chairman's approval is mandatory for releasing the final schedule and exam centre details. With just 13 days to go, students are still in the dark.
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