ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) in a dubious move has reversed its decision of making the roll number slips of private schools’ students available online, putting thousands of parents and students in trouble.

Apparently to appease owners of private schools, the FBISE notified that it would not upload the roll number slips of private schools’ students online.

As per a new notification, the board will hand over the roll number slips to private schools whose owners will have the liberty to provide it to the students. In the past, there were complaints that private school owners after receiving the roll number slips exploited the students and parents by demanding their ‘pending’ fees and fines.

However, in 2014 when parents registered complaints with the then FBISE chairman Dr Ikram Ali Malik, the latter said the roll number slip was a property of the student and the board and schools had nothing to do with it. Therefore, he decided to make the slips available on the website of the FBISE.

FBISE makes decision on demand of owners of schools

His action provided relief to the students and parents. However, private schools protested against it, saying students without paying pending fees and fines sat the board examination. The former chairman had reportedly told the private schools that the board was not a recovery office of schools rather its primary work was to hold exams. The protesting private school owners also lodged complaints with the then education minister Balighur Rehman, who after listening to both the parties, supported the action of the FBISE chairman.

However, the FBISE on Wednesday in response to a letter from the private schools, who are represented by their two members in the board of governors (BoG), notified: “It is apprised that suggestions/recommendations were considered/reviewed thoroughly and it was resolved that Roll No Slip of regular candidates shall be made available as per previous practice excluding the institutions recommended by yourselves.” The notification was addressed to the two BoG members of private schools.

The notification dated April 27 was issued by Controller Examinations Dr Bashir Khan Yousafzai, who is also holding some other important positions such as the controller conduct, controller secrecy and the director Information Technology.

Interestingly, a few days ago, newspapers reported that private schools had criticised the performance of the FBISE and conduct of its chairman, Qaisar Alam.

Mahmood Ali, a parent, demanded the newly-appointed federal education minister Rana Tanveer Hussain to look into the issue. “This issue warrants a proper inquiry,” he said.

FBISE Chairman Qaisar Alam told Dawn that the controller examinations had issued a notification as there was a demand of private schools that without paying pending fees, the students downloaded the roll number slips from the board website to sit the exams. He, however, said he would look into the matter.

“We are here to protect rights of parents and students as well genuine issues of schools. But we can’t allow anyone to exploit and blackmail students,” he said, adding after Eid a committee will look into the issue. He said the board will ensure that all students would sit the exams and for this purpose if a need arises: “We can issue roll number slips in the examination hall as well, but we will not allow any injustice with students,” he said.

When contacted, Private Schools Network President Dr Afzal Babur said it was their longstanding demand that the board should send the roll number slips to schools.

“We are thankful to the board for fulfilling our due demand,” he said.

Asked about alleged blackmailing and exploitation of students, he said: “We never blackmailed any students. We reject this allegation. After getting all dues cleared, admission forms of students should be forwarded to the board by schools. I do agree, once the admission form is submitted, there should be no demand of pending fees and pending fees should not be linked with the roll number slips,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2022