KARACHI: Education deptt opposes composite exam: Summary moved to Arbab
KARACHI, March 15: The Sindh education department has decided in principle to oppose the decision of conducting composite exams for 9th and 10th classes from 2007, and has moved a summary against the decision to the chief minister for sending it to the federal government, the PPI learnt on Wednesday.
Based on opposition of composite exams from parents, teachers, students, media and the Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen Sindh, the summary contains several arguments presented by all stakeholders against the decision.
According to it, the provincial education department has urged the federal government to review its decision of holding composite exams of 9th and 10th classes in the country from 2007, and if that was not possible, Sindh should be allowed to conduct separate exams for the said classes.
An official of the Sindh Education Department told PPI that although the decision regarding composite exams was taken unanimously at the inter-provincial education ministers’ conference, some provinces were against it fearing strong opposition from academicians, parents, teachers and other quarters.
He disclosed that composite exams was the proposal of Federal Education Minister Lt-Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi, who had presented it to President Pervez Musharraf and persuaded him to issue orders to all provinces to adopt it without any hesitation.
However, like other provinces, it was strongly opposed in Sindh. Even its governor and chief minister had opposed the idea. They asked the education department to take opinion from people concerned and, based on their views, suggest whether Sindh should adopt it or not, he added.
“Since lots of people including the Sindh’s Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen, parents, students, teachers, experts and the media in Sindh have opposed the decision, the Sindh education department has moved a summary to the chief minister against it, urging him to forward it to the federal government for repealing it or allowing Sindh to hold separate exams of 9th and 10th classes,” he informed.
He said Chief Minister Arbab Rahim and Governor Ishratul Ibad were personally against the decision of composite exams and the summary prepared by the education department enjoyed their full support.
“A large number of people have approached both the governor and chief minister against the issue of composite exams, and taking personal interest in it, they have directed the education department to give weight to the opinion of people associated with the education profession,” he said, adding that the summary also contained disapproval of both provincial authorities on the issue.
When his attention was drawn towards the recent statements of Sindh Education Minister Hamida Khuhro that class 9th exams would be held in 2006, he said there was little time left for the educational boards to hold class 9th exams, and neither was there a guarantee if Sindh would be allowed to conduct separate exams this year or not.
“But Dr Hamida is now convinced that a majority of people in Sindh are against the system of composite exams and she has also opposed it in a letter to the federal education ministry,” he added.
Another source at the education department said the federal education ministry had conducted a survey in favour of the composite exams for matriculation and intermediate classes.
The findings of this survey were presented to President Pervez Musharraf on which the latter issued directives for its adoption in the whole country, the source said.
However, findings of the said survey were never provided to the provinces, making it dubious and unacceptable for the provincial education departments, especially Sindh, the source said.—PPI
