Chaotic exams

Every year, as examinations begin under the Board of Secondary Education Karachi, the same pattern of disruption and disorder resurfaces, exposing an examination system that appears incapable of learning from its own repetition. What should be a routine, well-oiled operation instead descends into confusion, placing an unfair burden on students at the most critical point of their academic year.

This year is no different. With over 385,000 candidates appearing across Karachi, reports of last-minute admit card issues and abrupt centre allocations have uncovered severe lapses in administration. For students who spend an entire year preparing, such uncertainty at the eleventh hour is inexcusable. Conditions at several centres further reflect the scale of unpreparedness. Shortage of furniture, non-functional fans, power outages and overcrowded rooms turned exam halls into more like a marketplace. While the board claims satisfactory arrangements, its own officials acknowledge capacity constraints and logistical shortcomings. Reports of centres accommodating double their intended capacity point to poor planning rather than unforeseen pressure. When a system cannot accurately match student numbers with available infrastructure, its credibility is inevitably called into question. These examinations are conducted every year, with ample time to refine processes and streamline coordination. Instead, the same issues continue to surface. How can the board possibly bring an end to a culture of cheating when basic operations are in disarray?

Fixing this does not require an overhaul. The board must do the obvious, consistently and sincerely. Admit cards must be issued on time without exception. Centre allocations should be finalised well in advance and strictly aligned with capacity. Facilities must be physically verified before exams begin. Coordination with utilities should ensure uninterrupted electricity during examination hours. Above all, accountability must be enforced. Repeated lapses cannot be dismissed through routine challenges. None of this requires policy overhauls or new frameworks.