Come what may: Students hitchhike their way to Cambridge exams
Semester exams at the public and private universities across the city were announced to be deferred to a later date.
"The British Council and the CIE would like to reaffirm that all exams currently underway and scheduled in Karachi will continue as planned," said an 'important notice' for candidates at the Council's website. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI:
The British Council in Pakistan did not feel compelled to put off the ongoing Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in the wake of the unstable situation that developed after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) supremo, Altaf Hussain, was arrested in London.
Unlike the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi that closed its offices until further notice on Tuesday, the British Council, which is the body responsible for conducting CIE exams in the country, compelled the students to reach their exam centres according to the schedule.
"The British Council and the CIE would like to reaffirm that all exams currently underway and scheduled in Karachi will continue as planned," said an 'important notice' for candidates at the Council's website.
As fear and uncertainty loomed large over Karachi, the students and their parents were hard-pressed to reach the exam centres on Wednesday morning in the absence of public transport as well as the non-availability of fuel.
"I did not dare go to my office today but when my child told me about his exam, I could not have compromised his future," said Faisal Mahmood, who had accompanied his son to Regent Plaza. "I am really short on fuel, but I will see about that once my child finishes his exam."
In the morning shift, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and O' levels students appeared for their computer studies exam, while the A' level students had their psychology exam. Meanwhile, the IGCSE students sat for the design and technology exam while the AS level students appeared for the history exam in the afternoon shift.
While the majority of students had availed the luxury of their parent's personal conveyances, there were others like T*, who had to wait on the roads for any public transport and then literally hitchhike to their exam centre.
"Perhaps, the British Council and the CIE fail to consider the fact that the students, though we are appearing for a British exam, live in this troubled city and suffer due to their insensitive decisions," said a flustered student outside the Regent Plaza.
Meanwhile, the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) has announced to postpone all exams scheduled for the day. Likewise, semester exams at the public and private universities across the city were also announced to be deferred to a later date.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2014.
The British Council in Pakistan did not feel compelled to put off the ongoing Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in the wake of the unstable situation that developed after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) supremo, Altaf Hussain, was arrested in London.
Unlike the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi that closed its offices until further notice on Tuesday, the British Council, which is the body responsible for conducting CIE exams in the country, compelled the students to reach their exam centres according to the schedule.
"The British Council and the CIE would like to reaffirm that all exams currently underway and scheduled in Karachi will continue as planned," said an 'important notice' for candidates at the Council's website.
As fear and uncertainty loomed large over Karachi, the students and their parents were hard-pressed to reach the exam centres on Wednesday morning in the absence of public transport as well as the non-availability of fuel.
"I did not dare go to my office today but when my child told me about his exam, I could not have compromised his future," said Faisal Mahmood, who had accompanied his son to Regent Plaza. "I am really short on fuel, but I will see about that once my child finishes his exam."
In the morning shift, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and O' levels students appeared for their computer studies exam, while the A' level students had their psychology exam. Meanwhile, the IGCSE students sat for the design and technology exam while the AS level students appeared for the history exam in the afternoon shift.
While the majority of students had availed the luxury of their parent's personal conveyances, there were others like T*, who had to wait on the roads for any public transport and then literally hitchhike to their exam centre.
"Perhaps, the British Council and the CIE fail to consider the fact that the students, though we are appearing for a British exam, live in this troubled city and suffer due to their insensitive decisions," said a flustered student outside the Regent Plaza.
Meanwhile, the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) has announced to postpone all exams scheduled for the day. Likewise, semester exams at the public and private universities across the city were also announced to be deferred to a later date.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2014.