RAWALPINDI: Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Rawalpindi (BISE) will start marking papers of students, who appeared in the annual Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination 2020, from today (Monday).

Unlike other parts of the country, class 10 students in Punjab were exempted from the ‘no board exams this year policy’ announced by Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood last month as they had already appeared in the exams.

BISE spokesman Arsalan Cheema told Dawn that before the lockdown in March and closure of educational institutions, students had already given their board exam and only their practicals were pending. He said the paper checking policy was made after discussions were held between all boards of the province a few weeks ago.

However, he said no decision had been taken about the practical exam, however, there was a proposal that the practical exam marks would be assessed on the basis of the numbers obtained by students in their theory papers.

He said paper marking would be started across the province and the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Rawalpindi would commence the exercise from Monday. In this regard, 16 centres had been established, he added.

Mr Cheema said all standard operating procedures (SOPs) would be adopting regarding Covid-19 and all paper checkers would maintain social distancing. He said they would also wear gloves and face masks and ensure their pens, pencils and other items were sanitised.

He said staff’s training had completed last week, adding that BISE Chairman Dr Ghulam Dastagir had directed that secrecy of papers should be ensured and all SOPs followed.

He said the board chairman also visited the centre and directed the board’s staff to check papers on merit so that no candidate complains about the marking.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2020