Board under scrutiny over marking disparity

Court-ordered recheck exposes flaws in board's marking system

PESHAWAR:

A paper that was once worth zero marks is now worth 72 - and the student's answer sheet is at the centre of a controversy that has put the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Peshawar's examination system under scrutiny.

The "one paper, two results" controversy involves ninth-grade student Abdul Aziz, whose father, Arif Khan, an advocate, approached the Peshawar High Court through Advocate Amin Yousafzai after his son was awarded zero marks in Biology.

According to Amin Yousafzai, the student and his family initially approached the board for re-totalling, but officials maintained that the original result was correct.

"The student was given zero marks in Biology, and when the family approached the board for re-totalling, they were told that the result was correct and there would be no improvement in the marks," Amin Yousafzai said.

He said the family then approached the high court, which directed the board to produce and examine the answer sheet. Following the examination, the board awarded the student 72 marks instead of zero.

"The most alarming aspect of this case is that a student who was initially declared to have obtained zero marks was awarded 72 marks after his paper was examined on the court's direction," he said.

According to him, the discrepancy raises questions about the credibility of the examination system and how students' complaints are handled.

He questioned how many students might have faced similar problems but lacked the resources or awareness to approach the courts.

The lawyer said the family was reluctant to publicise the case due to fears that it could affect the student's academic future or lead to unfair treatment in his tenth-grade examination.

The case has also raised concern among parents who believe examination boards should provide an effective mechanism for resolving complaints without forcing students to seek judicial intervention.

Bakshish Khan, a parent, said his daughter had secured 450 marks out of 550 and had consistently achieved top positions in her class, but her recent marks were unexpectedly low. He said parents remained concerned about the reliability of examination and marking systems.

"Parents trust the examination system because the marks awarded by the board can determine a student's future academic opportunities," he said, adding that incidents such as the Abdul Aziz case could weaken that trust.

Educationist and lecturer Shah Nawaz Khan also criticised the Peshawar Board, saying examination boards carried a major responsibility because their decisions directly affected students' academic futures.

He believed there should be strong internal checks to ensure mistakes in marking, tabulation and compilation were detected before results were announced.

"If a student is initially given zero marks and the same answer sheet later results in 72 marks, this is not a minor discrepancy," Shah Nawaz Khan said, calling for a serious review of the board's examination and rechecking procedures.

Amin Yousafzai reiterated that the issue was not merely about the 72 marks awarded to one student but about the wider credibility of the examination system.

He said examination boards received billions of rupees every year from students and their families and were required to provide transparent and accountable services.

The lawyer said the case should serve as an opportunity for authorities to examine whether the existing rechecking and re-totalling system was sufficient to protect students from marking errors.

The Peshawar Board Chairman was repeatedly contacted for his version on the matter, but he did not respond to calls.

The matter remains pending before the Peshawar High Court and was recently adjourned until September 29, when further proceedings are expected.