ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Inter-Board Coordination Commission (IBCC) has decided that students with foreign qualifications who have studied additional mathematics in place of biology, along with other prescribed core science subjects, shall be granted Science Group equivalence at the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) level.

Previously, under the Scheme of Studies, such students were granted equivalence in the Arts Group.

Speaking to Dawn, IBCC Executive Director Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah said the IBCC made this decision in the greater interest of students.

“Not studying bio in matric should not be hurdle for students opting for pre-engineering at the inter level. This was great injustice,” he said, adding that even shining students with over 90pc marks were deprived of admission in the science group.

Dr Mallah said: “What does bio have to do with engineering; now those students who studied additional mathematics in place of biology at SSC level can get admission in engineering in first year.”

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2025