Karachi colleges seek postponement of biannual exams for associate degrees

Karachi University is considering a one-year postponement of the newly introduced biannual exam system for Associate Degree (AD) programmes offered in public colleges, following a recommendation from the Sindh College Education Department.

The move comes amid administrative and logistical challenges faced by government colleges in implementing the system. The university's academic council has been called into session to formally discuss the proposal.

In a letter addressed to Karachi University, Karachi’s Regional Director of Colleges, Faqir Muhammad Lakho, recommended delaying the implementation of the new examination format for one year.

“There is still considerable work to be done regarding the Associate Degree programmes (ADC, ADS, ADA), and colleges are facing difficulties in executing certain aspects,” the letter stated. “In the interest of both students and institutions, the new system should be deferred for a year.”

Karachi University had earlier approved the new exam model based on guidelines issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), developed by Affiliation Committee Secretary Prof Anila Amber Malik.

Unlike the semester system, the biannual structure requires two 100-mark exams per subject each year, conducted entirely by Karachi University’s Examination Department. Under the semester system, 40% of marks were assessed by the colleges and 60% by the university.

Although the HEC mandated a semester system for Associate Degrees, implementing it proved impractical due to the presence of private candidates, who fall outside traditional academic schedules.

Since the HEC replaced the traditional two-year bachelor’s programme with a four-year model and reclassified the two-year degrees as Associate Degrees, enrolment in Karachi University’s affiliated colleges has significantly declined.

Annual income from this stream has dropped from Rs800 million to just Rs200 million, the university confirmed. The academic council is expected to finalise its decision on the proposed deferment in the coming days.