THE Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) was established in 1972 by the government as an autonomous body aimed at exchange of academic and technical information among educational boards for maintaining fair measures of curricular, examinations and evaluation standards in Pakistan.

The forum meets on a quarterly basis so as to resolve all matters relating to development and standards of SSC, HSSC education and Inter-Boards disparities.

The IBCC equivates foreign and local educational qualifications up to SSC and HSSC levels.

Moreover, the Supreme Court in a specific reference had also declared the IBCC as the sole competent body to process and issue SSC and HSSC level educational qualification equivalence.

In addition, the IBCC authenticates certificates from grades I to XII from all over Pakistan. Based on the IBCC’s attestation, the foreign office and embassies concerned entertain certificates of candidates seeking further education or work abroad.

Moreover, the IBCC is an advisory body to the government of Pakistan on all matters of curricular, examination and evaluation standards.

It may be highlighted that the implementation commission, headed by Senator Raza Rabani, constituted for devolution of ministries/divisions and organisations under the 18th Amendment, was empowered by parliament to either transfer subjects/organisations to the provinces or retain at federal level. Thus the commission (comprised members from all federating units) enjoyed constitutional status till its desolution.

As such, it was the decision of the commission to retain the IBCC at the federal/national level (instead of devolving it).

The implementation commission decided to retain IBCC at federal level also in view of its important role at national and international levels, as all foreign qualifications up to grade XII are equated and uniform standards are followed by the IBCC through the IBCC Forum and EC.

Abdul Salaam Dadabhoy .

Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 11th , 2014