NED test results reveal Sindh's education divide

The aptitude test results of NED University of Engineering and Technology have revealed a troubling academic performance among students from various educational boards across Sindh except for those in Karachi. Despite the fact that the test is typically attempted by high-achieving A-one and A-graders in their intermediate exams, a significant number failed to make the cut. Out of 9,388 students who appeared for the test, only 68.1 per cent passed, while 2,990 students were unsuccessful.

Students from boards outside Karachi performed poorly in comparison, with the overall passing rate from these boards falling below 46 per cen. The Hyderabad Board recorded a failure rate of 53.3 per cent, with 406 out of 764 students failing. Larkana Board saw 219 out of 322 students fail, resulting in a 68.1per cent failure rate. Similarly, 308 out of 522 students from the Mirpurkhas Board failed, giving it a 59.1 per cent failure rate. The Nawabshah Board reported a 55.2 per cent failure rate with 144 out of 261 students failing, while Sukkur Board had a 66.2 per cent failure rate, with 176 out of 266 students failing the test.

In stark contrast, students from the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) performed significantly better. Only 1,387 out of 5,951 students failed, resulting in a relatively low failure rate of 23.4 per cent. Performance from other boards was also comparatively stronger. The Federal Board had 257 students appear for the test, of which 202 passed and 55 failed.

Meanwhile, students from the Cambridge system showed the highest success rate over 98 per cent; 455 out of 483 students passed and only 28 failed .

The dismal results from many districts in Sindh have raised concerns regarding students' academic preparedness for engineering and technology programmes.

Chairman of the Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) Karachi and Sindh Professor Faqir Muhammad Lakho expressed his concern over the performance. Speaking to The Express Tribune, he remarked, "The results surprised us too. Karachi has more resources, and students here often attend private tuition alongside regular college. The city's academic environment is very different from other districts."

He further noted that students from remote areas face additional challenges such as travelling long distances to Karachi to take the test. "The stress and fatigue from travel impact their performance," he explained. Professor Lakho suggested that NED should establish regional testing centres across Sindh, similar to the model used for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), to alleviate the burden on students and potentially improve their results.

When asked about the low passing percentage in BIEK results, the chairman replied that this time they had set up 11 assessment centres and appointed a monitoring in charge at each centre. No teacher is allowed to take the exam papers home, and he himself visited the assessment centres.