ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approved in principle the allotment of land for the construction of purpose built examination centres in the rural areas.

The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) will now have to get permission from the prime minister for the allotment of land before it can set up the three exam centres in the thickly populated rural areas including Bhara Kahu, Tramri Chowk and Humak.

The halls will primarily be used for conducting Higher Secondary School Certificate and Secondary School Certificate exams and the board will also be establishing science laboratories in these buildings which will be open for use by students of affiliated institutions throughout the year.

Most private schools in the rural areas do not have laboratories or sports grounds.

FBISE is currently conducting exams in the halls of various schools in the rural areas and it has to sometimes conduct exams in centres in the urban areas due to overcrowding.

FBISE Chairman Dr Ikram Ali Malik said: “The CDA recently informed us that it has identified three one-acre sites for us. The civic authority also asked to get the prime minister’s approval for the formal allotment process,” he said.

Mr Malik added that FBISE will pay CDA for the land and will also use its own funds for the construction of the examination halls. He said the board of governors has already approved this project.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2018