KARACHI: Ibad orders review of composite exam issue
By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, Feb 22: After a joint representation of the chairmen of educational boards, the Sindh governor has asked the provincial government to review its decision on the issue of composite exams for matriculation and intermediate classes.
According to official sources, the governor, who is also the controlling authority of educational boards in Sindh, wants that the matter pertaining to composite exams should be re-examined by the provincial cabinet. Sindh, like other provinces, has planned to introduce composite exams of SSC and HSC from 2007 and 2009 respectively.
The Sindh government was told about 10 days back that the observations of the chairmen of educational boards, which were based on apprehensions of students of classes IX and X, were worth consideration and a decision was required in this regard at an appropriate level, said a source.
It was learnt that the governor had said that the composite exams issue needed a fresh evaluation from all aspects besides keeping in view the interests of students, which was of primary importance, before a final decision.
This was said by an official of a board at a meeting of the Committee of Chairmen (COC) of the Sindh Boards of Education held in Karachi in February to discuss the government’s decision of composite exams at SSC level from 2007.
The meeting was told that the chairmen of educational boards had been requested by students and parents in writing as verbally on the issue of composite exams.
In view of the worries and grievances received from time to time after the new examination system had been announced, it was appropriate to adopt a unanimously passed resolution of the 110th meeting of Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen, Pakistan, held in Nov 2005 in Peshawar.
The Sindh education department had in no time, through two separate notifications, moved for implementation of the composite system after a decision of the meeting of federal and provincial educational ministers that the existing system of one annual examination should be replaced with one composite examination after two years.
However, the stakeholders – students, parents, teachers and school administrators – who claimed that they were not contacted before such a major decision said the new system was illogical and unconventional. They said it would certainly cast adverse impacts on students.
Without showing any flexibility on the issue of composite exams of classes IX and X, another moot of the provincial education ministers on Dec 6 in Karachi decided to go even a step further by giving a plan for introducing the said system in question even at the HSC level. This decision too met severe criticism from the stakeholders.
In view of the increasing opposition to composite exams, the COC in a special meeting on Feb 10 acknowledged the complaints from relevant circles. They found it necessary to refer the matter to the governor, with request to order for reverting back to the prevalent system of examinations, said a source privy to the meeting.
The COC also appreciated the 110th IBCC meeting, which had also resolved for strengthening the existing part-wise examinations of HSC and SSC levels. The IBCC had passed a resolution that semester system in many countries was being strengthened to ensure continuous assessment.
The meeting also had noted that most professional colleges and the Army’s recruitment process allowed students to apply on part one (HSC-I) results. They said the benefit couldn’t be availed if composite exams were introduced.
It further said that the existing separate textbooks of parts I and II would have to be consolidated. Besides, enough load would be put on students in the second years of HSC and SSC classes in case of composite exams.
In the meantime, the COC is convinced with complaints of and reservations from students of Sindh. The COC maintains that in case of a composite system, students of class IX will be deprived of taking exams in their failing subjects with those of Class X.
In case the schools conduct internal exams of Class IX, as decided by the education department, students will have to take the same exams in the composite system as well. As such, students will have to be examined twice for the same papers of Class IX.
The COC also acknowledged another point of candidates that there would be an extra burden on students when they take more than 10 papers at a time.
There is also every likelihood of spreading the menace of copy culture among the students, added the COC source.
