Matriculation: ‘Many students will fail if exams held early’

Private schools body hints at challenging decision in court if needed.

RAWALPINDI:

There are many schools where teachers have so-far taught only half of the coursework for matriculation. The decision to hold exams across Punjab half a month earlier than usual will result in a number of students failing their exams.

This was said by All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA) Divisional President Abrar Ahmed Khan at a press conference on Monday. He also hinted at challenging the decision in the Lahore High Court if needed.

The Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (RBISE) has announced Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam dates half month before the originally scheduled time, ostensibly because of national elections scheduled for March 2013. The SSC exams are slated to start from February 23, 2013.

“The exam dates will not be rescheduled and the dates for fee submission will also not be extended due to the national elections,” said RBISE Spokesman Arsalan Ali Cheema on Tuesday.

A committee including the chairpersons of all eight educational boards in Punjab approved the early exam dates and an exam fee hike, while also banning private science students from appearing.

The committee unanimously increased marks sheet fees by Rs100 to Rs550 rupees, while a Rs200 admission processing fee increase was also approved.

According to the schedule, the charges will Rs1,200 for arts students and Rs1,300 for eligible science students. All admission forms will be received online.

The candidates will have to submit their admission forms by December 7, with double fee being charged from December 26 to January 2, and triple fee being charged from January 3 to 10 along with an additional Rs200 fine per day after the December 7.

Around 29 examination centres have been set up in Rawalpindi, 12 in Attock District, nine in Chakwal, and nine in Jhelum.

RBISE Chairperson Dr Mohammad Ashraf said the board also wants to conduct FA and FSC exams earlier because of the intense summer heat and loadshedding problems. He said teachers will conduct zero periods which will help cover students’ coursework.

However, Abrar Khan said that textbooks needed for Punjab’s boards were not made available in the market on time and changes in the class IX syllabus have also complicated things. He said students used to prepare for their exams in the last three months, but this year they will only have a single month for revision before their scheduled exam date.

He also said the ban on private science students is a cruel act that will deprive millions of students of the right to education.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2012.