MIANWALI, Aug 26: Three regular BEd students of the University of Education will be at the mercy of fate after being refused to take their test for reaching 15 minutes late at the examination centre.

Information gathered by this correspondent revealed that the three students, Khalid Dad (Roll No 5374), Safdar Abbas (Roll No 5380) and Muhammad Tariq Khalid (Roll No 5384) reached their examination centre at the Government College for Elementary Teachers at 8.45, at least 15 minutes late. However, centre superintendent Haq Nawaz Joy allowed them to sit. But the paper distributing inspector, Muhammad Aslam Khan Niazi, senior headmaster of the Government Central Model Higher Secondary School, did not allow them to take their examination.

Giving their statements, the students said all their internal examinations/tests, including the final, started at 9am because a majority of the students had to come from far-off places.

The University of Education, Lahore, has started its first BEd classes throughout the Punjab by authorizing principals to hold tests/exams at the end of each semester. The university has arranged a qualifying examination of all the 18 subjects, which had been taught during three semesters.

Sargodha BISE has been authorized to conduct this examination. It is believed that the board authorities have appointed the local staff at the centre in Mianwali in violation of the policy.

When contacted, college principal Hidayatullah Malik, also a resident inspector of this examination, said the Sargodha board did not inform the students about the timings of the examinations.

The duties of the paper distributing inspector was not to roam about the centre, but to collect the question papers from the bank and hand over these to the centre superintendent, he said.

Aslam Niazi, when talked, claimed that he had been specially authorized to check the centre.

The students have appealed to the university VC to take action against the elements trying to ruin their future.