QUETTA: Private educational institutions in Balochistan have criticised the British Council’s decision for not holding O-level exams in Quetta and said it would deprive students of the province of quality education.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, principals of the educational institutions urged the council to withdraw the decision because it would cast a negative impact on the education system in Balochistan.

They rejected the decision to hold O-level exams outside Quetta  and said the British Council had not taken the educational institutions into confidence about it. “It is not acceptable for the teachers as well as parents of the students.”

They were of the opinion that lawlessness should not be the reason for shifting the exam centres to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore as the law and order situation was worse in Karachi than Quetta.

The principals said the British Council had sent the decision in writing last week while the exams were scheduled for May. They said the Balochistan government had offered to provide secured places for the exams, including the Staff College, but the council was not willing to accept them.  “When the British Council is reluctant to take responsibility of the children during tranquil days how can we take the risk of sending children and their parents to other cities like Karachi,” they said. They appealed to the Chief Justice Pakistan and the British High Commissioner to take notice of the decision which was aimed at depriving the students of Balochistan of quality education under an international conspiracy.