KARACHI: Treasury, opposition skewer composite exam system
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Nov 17: The treasury and opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly on Friday demonstrated rare identical concern over the decision of the inter-provincial education ministers conference to hold composite examination of the ninth and tenth class from next year.
Members from both sides questioned the wisdom of the decision by asking supplementary questions pertaining to the education department during Questions Hour on Friday. Despite repeated clarifications by Provincial Education Minister Dr Hameeda Khuhro, the members, mostly women, continued to question her about the background of the decision. The minister told the house that the decision was a part of the federal government’s policy and Sindh was implementing it. The objective was to raise the standard of education. However, the members did not seem satisfied.
When Leader of the Opposition, Mr Nisar Khuhro, drew the attention of the chair towards the unanimity of views of the treasury and opposition benches on the matter, Speaker Syed Muzzaffar Hussain Shah said this was the beauty of democracy.
In response to a question by Nasrullah Shaji, the education minister said the department had adopted the decision made by the federal government during the 8th inter-provincial education ministers meeting held on July 25 last year in Lahore. In pursuance of the decision, the Sindh education department had notified that composite examination of class IX and X would be held from 2007 and there would be no examination of class IX in 2006.
Replying to supplementary questions, Dr Khuhro said the matter of raising examination fees by the board was the board’s decision which did not fall under her authority. However, she would recommend an inquiry about it.
She was of the view that holding separate examinations of class IX and X over burdened the teachers. She dispelled the impression about non-availability of syllabus books in the market saying the old syllabus books were allowed as the new syllabus was yet to be finalised.
She also said the duration of school vacations was curtailed to increase the number of days in the academic session. She said this policy was to be implemented from last year but due to severe criticism in the Press, the Sindh government delayed implementation for a year. She also said schools could conduct examination for class IX but in the board examination, students had to appear in all papers including Sindhi compulsory.
Dr Khuhro evaded a question by MQM member Shakir Ali whether there was any constitutional obligation for implementation of the decisions taken by pointing out that the policy was framed in the light of the decisions taken at the inter-province ministerial moot and with consultation from educationists and other concerned experts.
Nasrullah Shaji in his supplementary question drew the attention of the minister that due to the educational standard in government schools, it was difficult to clear three papers out of five, then how would students clear 10 papers in one attempt. He said when the world was moving towards semester examination system, we were moving to conduct one examination in two years.
He asked the minister why Rs 500 were being charged as fees from students by the board if class IX examinations were not going to be conducted by the board ?
Talib Imam of MQM recalled that composite examinations were conducted last time in Sindh in 1962 . Now when the world was moving towards semester system, we were once again reverting to the past practice. He said instead of looking towards Punjab , the logical situation and the realities on the grounds should be kept in view in formulating policy.
Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, leader of the opposition, asked the decision of composite examination was taken in 2005 then why it was being implemented after a year. Naila Inam of PML-Q said that the government had transferred the load of teachers of conducting examination and invigilation of papers on students.
Begum Bilqees Mukhtar of MQM said that already there were lot of vacations then how come students could complete the two years syllabus in one year to prepare themselves for the composite examination.
Yunous Barai of MMA said when there were total harmony among treasury and opposition benches on the new policy of composite examination, why not a unanimous motion should be moved?
Ferheen Ambreen of MQM said for composite examination rich parents could afford to send their wards for tuitions and attend extra classes but lower middle class families could not afford this. Their children would be the worst sufferers in the new system.
Anwar Ali Mehar of PPP said why the assembly was not taken into confidence on such an important issue.
Shazia Marri asked what the education minister meant by saying that children would be forced to study. Is she meant that children would be tortured to compel the to study?
Jam Tamachi of PPP asked if any study was carried in the neighbouring countries like India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh before taking such radical decision?
Humera Alwani of PPP asked if stake holders, parents and teachers were taken into confidence before taking this decision.
Bano Saghir of PPP (Patriot) and Irfan Shah and Ayaz Soomro of PPP also criticised the composite examination system.
While another member from the treasury benches drew attention towards private schools where fees were charged on flimsy ground and those children who could not make it were being punished.
Before some other members could engage the minister by repeating similar questions the chair called it a day at 12 noon to reassemble on Monday at 10.am.
Earlier the House, which was called to order around 1.05 am ,two hours behind its schedule time of 9 am, offered Fateha for Syed Wahab Kazmi, resident editor of The Nation, advocate Muhammad Ali Gorgev who was killed in Larkana in the session court premises on Friday and for those who died due to Dengue fever.
