TIMERGARA: A model question papers review committee of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa education boards on Friday agreed to increase marks of practical examinations in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations from next year.

The committee also suggested changing the pattern of question papers for both the examinations to discourage cheating in examinations and rote learning.

In this regard, a meeting was held at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Malakand, with its chairman Prof Shaukat Ali in the chair. It was attended by Bannu BISE secretary Raj Mohammad; Kohat board secretary Abdul Raqeeb; Islamia College University, Peshawar, Zoology Department chairman Prof Ali Mohammad; Government Degree College, Batkhela, principal Zamin Gul; Malakand BISE controller of examinations Prof Jamil Ahmad; lecturer Aftab Alam from Garrison College Kohat; and assistant controller Swat board Zainullah.

The meeting recommended increasing marks of practical examinations for SSC by 15 marks, five for each subject of physics, chemistry and biology. It said that the marks of practical examinations would now be 45 instead of 30 in SSC. Similarly, marks of practical examinations for FSc would also be increased to 60 from the current 45.

Review committee discusses proposals to discourage cheating in exams

The committee also decided to increase duration of practical examinations from two hours to three hours.

It was announced that no subject specialist, teaching at higher secondary level, would perform examiner’s duty in practical examinations for grade 9th and 10th. The committee said that transparency in practical examinations would be ensured.

It also recommended approving theory papers containing objective type questions of 17 marks, short questions of 36 marks and long questions of 27 marks for intermediate students.

Similarly, for grade 9th and 10th the question paper would contain objective type questions of 11 marks, short questions of 28 marks and long questions of 21 marks. The question paper would be divided into three parts i.e. objective type, short questions and long questions while the paper would cover the course book in each examination.

The committee agreed to prepare similar papers of science subjects like physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics for all educational boards.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Shaukat Ali said that all these recommendations would be presented in the next Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inter-board meeting for approval. He said that all the boards would be asked to implement the changes so that standard of education could be enhanced in the province.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2016