KARACHI: Slight rise in number of SSC exam candidates
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 28: The number of candidates registered for Science and General groups, regular and private, annual examinations with the Board of Secondary Education, Karachi, has increased by 1.30 per cent this year when compared with the figures for the previous year.
According to BSE statistics, a total of 249,688 male and female students had been registered for the annual examinations of 2002, whereas for the 2003 annual examinations 252,941 students, including 128,329 female students, have been registered so far.
A study of documents revealed that the number of regular candidates registered with the board had declined this year. However, the number increased a little as some candidates submitted their examination forms with a late fee of Rs500 till Thursday, Feb 27, which was the last date for submission of examination forms with late fee.
At a briefing on the SSC annual examinations, which begin on March 1, on Thursday the controller of examinations, BSE, Mohammed Salim Khan, said 333 examinations centres, including 147 for girl students, would be set up in private and government schools in the city.
He said the examinations would be held in the morning shift till March 10, and from March 17 onwards the examinations would be held in two shifts. Admit cards and the schedule of examinations had been delivered to students through their schools.
He said the DG Rangers, IG Police Sindh, Nazim Karachi, DIG and DCO Karachi had been informed about the commencement of examinations, and they had also been requested for extending support to the board, enabling it to conduct the examinations in a peaceful manner and without the use of unfair means.
The board announced that it would form 83 vigilance teams, each consisting of two members. The vigilance teams would visit centres during the examinations. An emergency reporting cell would also begin functioning at the board from the day the examinations got under way. The reporting cell would ensure smooth conduct of examinations in schools and help out centre superintendents when they faced trouble.
Replying to questions from newsmen, the controller of examinations said all measures had been taken to improve the standard of assessment of answer scripts. “We have detected about 35 examiners. Most of them are from government schools. They have been found wanting in the assessment assignments, so these people will not be allowed any new assessment work,” he added.
He said the answer scripts of all those Class X students who had secured 70 per cent or above marks in Class IX examinations would be coded to avoid error or favour to any candidate.
