Stepping forward: Nearly two thirds pass matriculation exams

Top candidates awarded laptop computers, medals and cash.

LAHORE:

Lahore Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education on Friday announced detailed results of its secondary school certificate (SSC) examinations.

The overall pass percentage was 66.94% this year. Last year, the pass percentage was 66.36 per cent.

The BISE held a ceremony at Alhamra Hall to recognise the position holders.



The results were made available online at 10:10am on the BISE website. Students were also able to access their results by texting their roll numbers to 80029.

As many as 187,335 candidates appeared in the examinations, of which 124,343 passed the test.

Names of position holders were announced at a press conference held by the BISE Lahore on Thursday evening.

BISE Chairman Nasrullah Virk said results had not been delayed for the last 11 years.

He said prompt announcement of results had helped improve the image of the institution. He said initiatives taken in collaboration with the government had managed to eradicate the “booti mafia.”

Education Minister Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan was the chief guest on the occasion. Higher Education Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Controller Examinations Anwer Farooq and other senior officials were also present.

Addressing the ceremony, Khan said the government wanted to acknowledge successes of talented students by sending them on study tours abroad.

He said students had been sent to learning centres in various countries, including England, Germany and Sweden.

The minister said the government had taken several initiatives to ensure merit was upheld.

The minister distributed medals among position holders and distributed cheques of Rs20,000, Rs15000 and Rs10,000 among students who stood first, second and third, respectively.

The over all position-holder, Usama Qamar, was also awarded a laptop.

Parents of position holders were overwhelmed by the success of their children.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the parents of students who shared the overall second slot scoring 1,072 marks expressed their satisfaction with the quality of education being imparted to children.

“He did work hard but the support of his teachers helped him achieve the goals,” said Nawab Ali, father of Ali Husnain, who stood second.

Husnain, a resident of Nanakana Sahib, said he planned to pursue medicine.

“I am proud of my daughter for maintaining a balance between her studies and her recreational activities,” said Muhammad Ashraf Sajid, father of Sajeeha Ashraf, who shared the overall second spot with Husnain.

She also aspires to take up medicine.

Supplementary examination would start on September 9, an announcement by the board said.

Admission fee without late fee penalty can be deposited till August 8.

According to the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Lahore, candidates would be able to apply for online rechecking within 15 days of the announcement of the result.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2014.