Blackouts mar board exams day two

KARACHI/JOHI:

Annual examinations conducted under the Board of Secondary Education Karachi faced significant challenges on their second day, as power outages and administrative shortcomings created difficulties for students across the city.

The Class IX Computer Studies paper was held in the morning shift, while afternoon exams included compulsory Urdu, Sindhi, and Pakistan Geography (Paper I) for the general group. A total of 385,529 students appeared in the examinations across 521 centres in both morning and evening sessions.

However, several examination centres reported prolonged electricity outages, forcing students to take their exams in extreme heat without fans, adversely affecting the overall environment. According to staff, the issue persisted from the previous day and remained unresolved despite assurances.

In parts of New Karachi, additional concerns emerged, including overcrowding at examination centres. Reports indicated that two to three students were made to share a single bench, further complicating the situation.