KARACHI, Nov 22: Students of ninth and tenth grades demanded of the Sindh education department to immediately issue a notification in compliance with the orders of the Sindh chief minister for holding the annual exams of secondary classes separately in the current academic year.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, students from various private schools regretted the decision by the education ministry to hold composite examinations from the year 2007.

It is prudent to mention here that the press conference coincided with the Sindh Assembly session, during which Sindh Education Minister Hamida Khuhro declared that joint examination (class

IX and X) would be held from 2007.

The students were of the view that the new scheme of studies was introduced without consulting the real stakeholders ie the students, and invited Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Arbab Rahim to discuss the issue in a student-convention organized by the Private School Management Association (PSMA), to be held at the FTC Building on Nov 29.

The students said that in the absence of any final decision on whether or not to hold composite exams this year had cost students four months as they did not know from which textbooks to study.

They were of the view that the semester system should be included for class 9th and 10th students and textbooks must be made available.

Those who addressed the press conference included among others Arsalan Qamar, Faizan Naqvi, Nargis Fatima and Sidra Rizwan.—PPI