PESHAWAR: Private Education Council has announced its full support for the cluster examination system introduced by the provincial government for conducting examinations, describing it as a major step towards transparency and merit in the education sector.

Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, Council head Nazar Hussain, flanked by other members including chairman Gul Nabi Musazai and representatives of various private education associations, said the newly introduced system would ensure that students from both public and private schools sit for examinations under one roof without any external influence or discrimination.

He stated that under the cluster system, students from different socioeconomic backgrounds would now be assessed on equal footing, effectively eliminating the divide between rich and poor. “This system will make cheating a thing of the past,” he said, adding that it would promote merit and accurately reflect students’ abilities.

Mr Hussain noted that for years, the examination system had encouraged a race for marks, often leading to unethical practices such as cheating and the use of unfair means. “As a result, incompetent professionals including doctors, lawyers, engineers and even teachers were being produced,” he said.

Term it a major step towards transparency and merit

He praised the provincial government and the education department for introducing reforms that aim to restore credibility to the examination process.

He further revealed that the council had been advocating for such a transparent system for the past 25 years, having written letters to the Supreme Court, successive governments and provincial assembly speakers. “It is encouraging to see that our long-standing recommendations have finally been implemented,” he added.

Mr Hussain urged parents to support the new system despite potential logistical challenges such as students having to travel to different examination centres. “These are small sacrifices for a transparent and fair system that will benefit our children in future,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the council chairman Gul Nabi Musazai expressed concerns that certain individuals within the Peshawar Board were attempting to undermine the new system. He called on higher authorities to ensure that such elements were kept away from the reform process.

He also appealed to teachers and educational institutions to play their role in making the system successful, emphasising that collective efforts are essential for nurturing a competent and capable future generation.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2026