One year wasted

The irresponsible behaviour of school managements and education department have had consequences for the students.

The consequences of unchecked growth in the number of schools and institutes opening at every nook and cranny became apparent on April 2 when nearly 300 students were unable to take their Matric examinations because their schools did not submit their forms on time. As over 136,000 students in Karachi sat for their annual Matric exams — a test that plays a determining role in their future — nearly 300 of their peers protested outside the board office and demanded admit cards.

A report published in this newspaper named the schools that failed to meet the deadline and, as a result, made their students waste an entire year — a delay that can have devastating consequences for their future. Earlier, another report had brought to attention a similar case in a school where a clerk had stolen the money entrusted to him to deposit at the board office. Indeed, this only goes to highlight that schools have to take this responsibility more seriously in the future.

Since the identities of these schools have been published, it is now time for the education department to move against the management and take them to task for failing to take their jobs seriously. In fact, one school had committed a similar blunder last year, meaning that the authorities had not taken any action which is why they made the same mistake again. For their part, the school administrations had nothing more to say than that they are holding negotiations and are trying to convince the examinations controller to accommodate their students — this seems impossible given that the first exam has already taken place.

In the end, the irresponsible behaviour of school managements and the lack of checks put in place by the education department have had consequences for the students, who may have to wait a whole year before they sit these exams and apply for colleges.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2014.

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