IN a society with no place for second best, talented high school students find themselves locked in a conundrum of stifling rules and legalities. Ruled by mafias, irresponsible marking of papers in board exams is actually protected by law.

No matter how unfairly judged, the marks assigned by the first evaluator enjoy an untouchable status. Poor student can’t challenge it nor have the paper re-marked or reassessed by an independent checker, (even by paying additional fee), nor can the candidate re-appear afresh in a subject, unless he has actually failed in it.

Having a paper re-evaluated by a third party checker, is the best check on irresponsible marking, and should be allowed on payment of a fee.

Similarly, reappearance in exams to improve scores (without actually failing in them) is a globally accepted practice, which is denied by our educational boards. Besides Cambridge External and American SAT/ GRE, it is even allowed by the Pakistani federal and Aga Khan boards.

But it is too complex for the others, including our Rawalpindi board, to manage.

Principal

Cadet College Hasanabdal

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2018