KARACHI, Aug 12: The top three position holders of HSC (Pre-Medical) Science group annual examinations-2003 have disliked the government’s decision to award two per cent grace marks to the failures of different examinations conducted by the education board in the year 1999-2002.

Talking to media men at a ceremony arranged by the Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi, to declare the HSC annual examinations results on Tuesday, the students also appreciated the reinforcement of mandatory 75 per cent attendance rule at colleges during the last one or two years and termed it positive step towards improving of students-teachers interaction as well.

Those who were interviewed by media men at the BIE’s ceremony, included Maria Sayeed, Javaria Rashid, Hafiz Abdul Moiz Fakih and Samin Inam. The students were unanimous against the grant of grace marks to the failures of a limited batches, having exhausted their all chances to pass the examinations, rejecting the step as being ineffective for improving the standard of education or performance of students any way, particularly in this age of competition and professional excellence.

Majority of the position holders suggested that the government could have allowed the failures to repeat the papers, instead of providing grace marks facility. The “failure condoned” certificate would create further problems for students in question, while provision of another chance to appear in examination could help them pass the same without any disadvantage.

Referring to other issues pertaining to academics, the first position holder, Maria Sayeed, d/o Mohammad Sayeed, said that urdu as the only medium of instruction should not be adopted or implemented in educational institutions till the time a complete range of higher education text and reference books were available in urdu.

Ms Maria, who wanted to be a specialist in child health, lauded the enforcement of compulsory attendance rule in colleges, which she said was causing .

Javaria Rashid, d/o Mohammad Rashid, who got second position in the examination, said that theory portion should be reduced and more MCQs should be included in examination papers.

Hafiz Abdul Moiz, s/o Abdul Rahim Fakih, who got third position, said that colleges should hold internal examinations or tests from time to time.

Samin Inam, d/o Inam Ahmed Siddiqui, who also secured third position said that changes should be made in textbooks keeping in view the international standards.