KOHAT: All the private schools of Kohat division announced their boycott of the workshop being organised here on Monday (today) by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Kohat, regarding introduction of assessment examinations from class 5th.

The executive body of the Private Educational Association Kohat (Peak) said that if the provincial government was so sincere in bringing reforms in the education system it should first appoint a permanent chairman of the BISE, Kohat, where acting one was working since last one year.

It said that the acting chairman could not pay attention to his job because he was also a permanent secretary of the BISE, Kohat, who had to look after thousands of schools and colleges.

Announce to boycott workshop being held in Kohat today

The executive body meeting of Peak was held at a school in Bilitang on Sunday with Rab Nawaz in the chair. It was decided not to attend the workshop to be held on Monday (today).

The members also announced to observe Nov 25 as closed holiday against the decision to introduce assessment examination from class 5th. When contacted, Mr Nawaz said that they had held two meetings with the BISE officials and apprised them of their and the parents reservations in this regard.

Answering a question, he said that they had argued before the acting BISE chairman, Abdul Raqeeb, that in case a child failed in the board examination of 5th class he would be automatically dropped out and his education would end there.

He said that they had demanded that corruption and cheating in the board examinations of 9th and 10th classes should be ended before introduction of such exams for 5th grade.

Also, the BISE administration should first agree on a single course, as more than half a dozen different courses are being taught at the private schools registered with the board.

He said that the private school associations of Karak, Hangu, Darra Adamkhel, Orakzai Agency and Kurram Agency had also decided to boycott the workshops. President of Private Schools Association, Hangu, Amir Khan said that they would not attend the training workshop for the 5th class board exams.

Published in Dawn November 21st, 2016