The Punjab government has realised the inherent problems in conducting primary and middle standard examinations by the Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) and is out to revamp it.

Quite surprisingly, the commission is conducting the province-wide examinations involving around 2.6 million students with only 23 core staff members. It is completely dependent on the executive district officers (education) for conducting the exams, marking and supplying computerised result sheets (which also carry marks of subjective-type questions posted by the respective examiners).

Neither the PEC has a mechanism nor means to verify whether the districts are sending correct results or not. “The PEC is getting the results scanned in Lahore and finalising as well as uploading them in good faith,” says the commission’s Chief Executive Officer Nasir Iqbal Malik. He says the PEC is, however, committed to resolving each complaint and taking action against any culprits found.

As the PEC declared the Class-V and VIII results on March 31, a massive number of complaints emerged from across the province and stakeholders were compelled to say that not even a single school in Punjab was satisfied with the results.

There were complaints of different results of a candidate on the commission’s website and on SMS. There were complaints that result sheets of Muslim students mentioned the ethics paper, while non-Muslims’ mentioned Islamiat.

A serious glitch was reported in Lahore district where the top position holder in middle standard examination turned out to be a ghost candidate. The Lahore EDO (education) reported that Class-VIII top position holder Fatima Zehra was neither enrolled nor appeared at the designated examination centre.

The PEC CEO says the commission quickly responded to the complaint and apprehended the accused. He said schoolteacher Idrees had illegally inserted answer sheets of his daughter Fatima Zehra, and Rab Nawaz, a data entry operator, had entered the candidate’s fake marks. Both the accused are being interrogated by the Anti-Corruption Department and tried under PEEDA Act.

“I am here to nab those involved in wrongdoings in the commission examinations and also committed to addressing all complaints and ensuring no candidate or parents suffer,” he added.

Referring to complaints of wrong results, Malik said the commission had selected a firm through a rigorous process and contracted it for scanning the computerised results. He said under the contract, the commission would deduct 5pc payment on 0.1pc result errors, 10pc on a higher percentage and so on.

Regarding issues in downloading results from the PEC website, Malik said some 4.2 million hits were recorded within a few hours of uploading the results on March 31. Stating that it was difficult to manage such a large-scale web traffic, he said, all issues had now been resolved and individual complaints were being looked after.

“The Punjab government is also on the go to revitalise the examination commission for effective outcomes.”

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and retired Justice Khalilur Rehman Khan, Punjab Halal Development Agency (PHDA) chairman, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate and work jointly for the development of halal industry in the country.

The MoU requires that both institutions work towards high quality standards of nutrition and hygiene in halal-certified food and other non-food products in accordance with international export quality standard, ensuring that halal products are genuine (pure, wholesome, safer and healthier). They will promote mainstreaming of halal products to compete in the global market.

The UVAS and the PHDA will exchange expertise on halal products research and development of new methodologies, product innovation as well as reagent kits exploitable for halal food verification. They will raise awareness for halal-certified products by organising conferences, training sessions, seminars and workshops for the community, students and professionals. Both organisations will also collaborate in testing of halal products to ensure their quality and purity.

Prof Pasha said the university was producing competent and skilled manpower needed in livestock and allied sectors and added the varsity had state-of-the-art laboratories for testing of food products, which would help ensure quality and purity of halal food.

The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences faculty has elected its representatives on the Academic Staff Association (ASA).

The ASA’s newly elected office-bearers are Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani (president), Dr Saima Naveed (vice president), Dr Asim Khalid (general secretary), Dr Jawad Nazeer (treasurer) Dr Muhammad Tayyab (general secretary) and Muhamamd Junaid, Aun Muhammad and Dilshad Rashid (representatives from Ravi, Jhang and Layyah campuses, respectively).

UVAS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha last week administered oath to the newly elected office-bearers. The VC urged them to work for the welfare and development of the teaching staff of the university. — mansoormalik173@hotmail.com