KARACHI, Jan 26: The SSC Annual Examinations under various educational boards in the province would now commence on April 5 instead of March 1, it was learnt officially here on Wednesday.
Over a month delay in commencement of examination was caused following the release of new academic calendar which detailed the schedule of annual exams of Class I to Class XII.
A sub-committee of the Sindh education department?fs steering committee with Special Secretary Education Sohail Akbar Shah in the chair finalized the academic calendar (2005-2006) on Wednesday.
A major shift from the past is being observed in the schedule after the education department's decision to change the date of commencement of academic session in the province from April 1 to August 1.
As per the sub-committee's decisions, educational boards are required to conduct matriculation examination from April 5 and released the results latest by June 30. The intermediate (HSC) annual examinations would begin from May 17 and results would be declared latest by July 30.
The sub-committee meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Dr Mehboob Ali Shaikh, Larkana educational board?fs chairman Ali Nawaz Palijo, EDOs (Education) Dr Rafiq Ahmad Siddiqui (Nawabshah) and Aijaz Ali Khan (Karachi), Karachi University?fs registrar Syed Sikandar Mehdi and three principals of private schools.
In case of primary and middle government and private schools, it was decided that these would hold annual exams from May 10 and declare results latest by May 30. A source privy to the meeting said that the universities had also been requested to change the admission schedule in line with the fact that the result of HSC annual exams would be declared latest by the end of July.
Universities could advance their admissions proceedings by two or three months, added the source. It was also resolved in the meeting that the holidays observed by the University of Karachi should not be applicable on its affiliated colleges.
The colleges were run by the Sindh government and as such these would observe the holidays declared by the Sindh government only. The meeting further decided that admission process for first year classes in colleges would commence from July 1 and finished by July 30.
Classes both in schools and colleges would commence on August 1. Additional Secretary Dr Mehboob A. Shaikh told Dawn that the committee took all the decisions unanimously considering every section of society.
The decisions would be implemented by all the government and private schools and colleges up to Class XII, he added, saying that now students will get two months more for studies this year while there will be no break in the academic session next year and onwards.
He said that universities could also revise their schedule and commence their session from September 2005. He said that summer vacations would be observed from June 1 to July 31 while the winter vacations would be observed from December 24 to January 2 in the ensuing academic year.
Holidays in schools and colleges this year would be observed as follows: Muharrum-ul-Haram 9th and 10th, Pakistan Day (March 23), Eid Miladunnabi (SA) on 12th of Rabiul Awal, Labour Day (May 1), Independence Day (Aug 14), Eidul Fitr (two days), Iqbal Day (Nov 9) and Quaid's birth anniversary (Dec 25).
In the meantime, the Private Schools Management Association, which has been raising voice against the changes in the commencement of academic calendar and other related developments, has appealed to the governor, chief minister, Speaker Sindh Assembly to intervene in the issue.
The association has also announced to hold a protest rally at the Karachi Press Club on Jan 27 against the education department's decision regarding start of academic session.
