LAKKI MARWAT: The district chapter of all subject specialists association has rejected the resumption of composite secondary school certificate examinations by the education boards from next academic session, saying the abolition of ninth grade board examination was an unwise decision and should not be implemented at all.

Talking to journalists after a meeting here on Saturday, the association’s president Taj Mohammad said the composite exam system was not favourable to students as it would put extra burden on them.

“The students of religious seminaries and those appearing in matriculation examinations as private candidates will quit studies with the introduction of composite examination system,” he maintained, saying the teachers and students won’t accept the decision.

Taj Mohammad said the composite examination would decrease the pass percentage, asking the government to direct education boards to continue conducting ninth grade examinations.

The association’s president also declared the conduct of eighth grade examinations by the education boards as illegal and said the educational boards were not allowed to conduct examinations below ninth grade and above intermediate classes.

He asked the government to direct heads of educational boards to conduct ninth and tenth grade examinations separately. He also demanded of the education department to hold departmental examinations of fifth and eighth grades under the supervision of district education officers.

FIRING IN AIR: The police on Saturday launched a campaign to raise awareness among people, especially youths, about harmful effects of firing in the air on the eve of Eid and during Eid days.

The campaign was launched on the directives of district police officer Abdul Hayee Khan who also held several meetings with area elders and local bodies’ members in that regard.

An official said banners carrying messages about the hazards of firing in the air had been displayed at public places and at police stations.

He said DSPs and SHOs held meetings with members of police liaison committees in their respective areas to seek their help for curbing the practice of firing in the air and fireworks.

He said meetings with religious scholars, clerics, mediapersons, social activists and local government representatives would also be arranged to augment efforts aiming to control firing in the air.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2019