KARACHI: After days of protests by a large number of students and intervention of political parties seeking justice for them, caretaker Sindh Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Baqar took notice of the “flawed” result of first year exams conducted by the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) and formed a three-member probe committee on Saturday.

The gravity of the situation could be gauged from the fact that the BIEK had declared less than 40 per cent students successful in the first year exams held in 2023.

According to the result issued by the BIEK on Jan 9, a total of 30,512 students appeared in first year Science pre-medical exams and only 11,254 of them passed in all six papers; 24,449 appeared in pre-engineering and only 8,328 of them passed all six papers.

The results badly affected the students who have held protests over the issue and demanded that their copies be rechecked in the “scrutiny”.

Three-member committee to investigate ‘abrupt decline’ in passing percentage of Class XI students

On Saturday, CM Baqar took notice of their plight and formed a “fact-finding committee” to probe into the allegations of intermediate students regarding first year results.

According to a notification issued by the Sindh Universities and Boards Department, the committee is headed by NED University Vice Chancellor Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi and comprises Executive Director of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Dr Akbar Zaidi and Sindh Higher Education Commission Secretary Moinuddin Siddiqui.

According to its terms of reference, the committee is tasked to probe into the matter regarding alleged “manipulation of results causing abrupt decline in passing percentage of students of Class XI during Annual Examination, 2023; to fix responsibility and submit its report within 15 days.

Students’ future at stake

A number of universities and professional colleges take admission tests of students on the basis of the marks they get in their first year exams.

Many students said that the process for admissions in the IBA has already begun and they are unable to take their aptitude test because of poor results.

Talking to Dawn before the announcement of the fact-finding committee, NED University Vice Chancellor Dr Lodi said: “It is definitely a matter of concern for us. Although we haven’t decided yet as to how and what is to be done in this regard but yes, we need to review our admission criteria and make alterations wherever needed because we need good quality applicants.”

However, he was hopeful that the results would be reviewed.

But, a spokesperson for the IBA refused to comment on the possibility of reviewing their criteria, which the institute had done in case of A-Level students last year.

Students’ ordeal

Dawn approached these students who expressed distress and concerns over the results.

Filza Rehman said she was a bright student and had got 89pc marks in Class-X. But she was declared ‘fail’ in chemistry paper in her first year exams. She got only eight marks in the subject despite having a good academic record and securing good marks in other subjects in this examination.

“I am shattered. I had a childhood dream to become a doctor but it has been ruined. First we thought that it was a mistake and I am the only victim. But when we contacted and visited the board office, they said all is done and nothing is going to change.”

“I am spending sleepless nights,” she said and added that “If this result isn’t fixed, I am not sure what I am going to do. My life would not be the same.”

Similarly, Huzaifa Shoaib got good marks in other subjects but failed in English. Interestingly, this has happened to him despite being an English medium student throughout his academic career.

When asked what he had to say about this issue, he said: “I have studied all subjects in English throughout my academic studies. English is my first language when it comes to studies and they failed me in English.”

“I had plans to move to Islamabad to my elder sister’s home and pursue studies there at a reputed university. The results are fraud and we are still not sure despite promises from the government what would happen. This result has killed all my enthusiasm.”

Whereas another student, who failed in four subjects, was too disappointed as he said that he would probably quit intermediate and just do some diploma in IT.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2024