KARACHI, Oct 6: It took the Board of Secondary Education critical press reports, protests by anguished students and irate school principals to decide that it will allow the students seeking admission to the provincial medical colleges to receive their original matric certificates through their respective schools, from Oct 8.

Previously, the BSE was adamant that it would start issuing the original matric certificates from Oct 16, one day after the last date — Oct 15 — for submission of original certificates along with application forms to the medical colleges.

An elderly principal of a school, who was visibly incensed, said: “Does the BSE have any idea how much agony students and their parents had to undergo? They remained on tenterhooks for more than five days because of a lack of coordination between the BSE and the Sindh health department.”

A statement issued by the BSE on Saturday said that original matric certificates could be collected from Oct 8.

The statement says: “It is hereby notified for information of all heads of government and private recognized secondary schools that the secondary school certificates of science group (1999) may be collected by them personally or through an authorized senior teacher/official of the school from room 23, ground floor, of this office during working hours with effect from Oct 8.”

A girl student, who heaved a sigh of relief on learning that she could now get her original matric certificate before Oct 15, said: “If the BSE was unhappy with the Sindh health department, it should not have taken it out on poor students.”