IBCC equivalence formula challenged before LHC
Petition challenges admission policy for students of A-level in medical colleges.
LAHORE:
A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Inter Board Coordination Committee (IBCC) chairman in a petition challenging the admission policy for the students of A-level in medical colleges.
The bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed sought a report from the IBCC by October 11.
A student, Fazeel Shahid, filed the petition submitting that he had recently passed his A-level examination and secured 5 As with more than 90 per cent marks. In the O-level, he said, he had secured 9 As and 1 B.
The petitioner’s counsel, Sharjeel Adnan Sheikh, submitted that IBCC had introduced new regulations for students wishing to continue their education in Pakistan after A-level.
He pointed out that the equivalence formula framed by the IBCC, used for the conversion of O and A levels grades, considers eight subjects of O-level (five compulsory and three elective) and three A-level subjects. He added that according to the policy marks secured in a subject of O or A level carry equal weight.
The counsel said the subjects other than those mentioned were not considered and subjects like additional mathematics or further mathematics were taken as additional ones.
He further pointed out that according to the IBCC policy, a student with straight As in O-level and straight A* in A-level still got a maximum of 950 marks out 1100 unlike FSc students who get marks without any deduction.
According to Cambridge rules, A* is given on 90 per cent and A on 85 per cent, he added.
Mr Sheikh argued that the merit for admission in medical colleges was about 83.1 per cent, but the petitioner, who had secured 5 As in A-level and 9 As and 1B in O-level still could not get an admission into medical college because of the new equivalence policy.
He said that the IBCC policy would lessen the chances of A-level students getting admissions in medical colleges.
The counsel prayed that the equivalence policy of the IBCC be declared as illegal, unreasonable, discriminatory and of no legal effect and the respondent authority be directed to amend it.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2010.
A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Inter Board Coordination Committee (IBCC) chairman in a petition challenging the admission policy for the students of A-level in medical colleges.
The bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed sought a report from the IBCC by October 11.
A student, Fazeel Shahid, filed the petition submitting that he had recently passed his A-level examination and secured 5 As with more than 90 per cent marks. In the O-level, he said, he had secured 9 As and 1 B.
The petitioner’s counsel, Sharjeel Adnan Sheikh, submitted that IBCC had introduced new regulations for students wishing to continue their education in Pakistan after A-level.
He pointed out that the equivalence formula framed by the IBCC, used for the conversion of O and A levels grades, considers eight subjects of O-level (five compulsory and three elective) and three A-level subjects. He added that according to the policy marks secured in a subject of O or A level carry equal weight.
The counsel said the subjects other than those mentioned were not considered and subjects like additional mathematics or further mathematics were taken as additional ones.
He further pointed out that according to the IBCC policy, a student with straight As in O-level and straight A* in A-level still got a maximum of 950 marks out 1100 unlike FSc students who get marks without any deduction.
According to Cambridge rules, A* is given on 90 per cent and A on 85 per cent, he added.
Mr Sheikh argued that the merit for admission in medical colleges was about 83.1 per cent, but the petitioner, who had secured 5 As in A-level and 9 As and 1B in O-level still could not get an admission into medical college because of the new equivalence policy.
He said that the IBCC policy would lessen the chances of A-level students getting admissions in medical colleges.
The counsel prayed that the equivalence policy of the IBCC be declared as illegal, unreasonable, discriminatory and of no legal effect and the respondent authority be directed to amend it.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2010.