November 27, 2001	Tuesday	Ramazan 11, 1422

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SAHIWAL, Nov 26: Compulsory examination for class 5 and 8 would be conducted by the district administration instead of the Divisional Directorate of Education to raise the standards of education, district Nazim Rai Hassan Nawaz said in a press conference, on Tuesday.

He said both male and female students, who intend appearing in the examinations of these classes, would have to secure more than 33 per cent marks for promotion to next class.

Candidates who failed to obtain less than 33 per cent marks in any of the papers would not be promoted, he added.

However, the decision taken by the district government does not conform to the Punjab government’s policy for ‘literacy promotion.’ Any amendment to the policy, so to speak, can mar the standards of education.

According to BISE rules, if a candidate secures less than 33 per cent marks in any subject in matriculation examination, he/she stands passed under ‘concessional marks’ with an asterik printed in front of the marks obtained by him/her in the particular subject.

Clearing all the subjects for these classes is binding on the students studying in government schools while students in private institutions are eligible to appear in matric exams even if they fail to clear a subject in class 5 or 8.

Further to this, the BISE does not bind candidates to pass English as an elective subject in class 5, if they want to appear in matriculation examination.

The district government, on the other hand, has given a free hand to students in electing or rejecting English. According to the rules, marks in English, by those who want to opt for the subject, are not to be included in aggregate marks.

In 1994, the Punjab government education department made English a compulsory subject from class 1. Around 318 teachers were recruited in various institutions for the purpose. The examination of English was to be held in 1999, according to the policy. However, no examinations were held.

The situation is now clear as curriculum of English has been designed in keeping with the ‘spoken capability’ instead of the syllabus prescribed for the regular 5th classes in English medium schools.

District government was also supposed to conduct examination for middle from Feb 2002 and the admission forms for which were to be submitted by Nov 15, 2001. However, indifferent attitude of the executive district officer (education) had led the candidates to move from pillar to post to get the admission forms but without success.

Quite interestingly, the district government has imposed ban on students of 13 to take the middle examination.

Infact, all these restrictions are imposed on the government- run institutions where students, who afford less fees, get education.

Private institutions are exempted from these restrictions as the candidates are eligible to appear in the matriculation examination even if they fail to get through in 5th or 8th class under the district government control.

The 5th class examination is scheduled to be held in the district on Feb 15, 16 and 17, 2002, while the results will be announced on March 31, 2002. Admission to next class will start on April 15 and the students have to wait for two months.

Abnormal workload for setting of papers, conducting the examinations and marking by the teachers are most likely to affect routine studies.

Experts are of the view that concept of ‘failure’ on little minds can prove discouraging. Poor students are even more at disease in this regard, they say.

They have urged the district government to review its decision for the good of teacher and the taught.