KARACHI, Aug 8: A one-day seminar on “Examination Standards” has recommended for conducting studies on the declining examination standards and arranging periodic training sessions for examination staff of varsities.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Quality Enhancement Cell and Physiology department of the University of Karachi on Saturday, wherein the vice-chancellor, Dr Pirzada Qasim was the chief guest. Among others, the pro-vice-chancellor of KU Dr Akhlaq Ahmed, Dr Ibrahim Pathan , Dr M Abdul Azeem, Dr Shamim Akhtar, Dr Shakeel R Farooqui and Dr Arif Hashmi also spoke at the seminar.

According to recommendations released by the organizers of the seminar on Monday, it was pointed out that a study to know the ‘lacking correlation” in examination and performance should also be undertaken. Principles, standards operating procedures, code of conduct and assessment policy must be made public in black and white, it was further added.

The seminar called for implementation of examination rules effectively through associate deans, deans and deans’ committee to prevent misconduct. Institutional instruction manuals should be published for the conduct of examination, paper setting, script marking and post-examination analysis.

It was also recommended that the national standards for examination for higher education be set and it should, among other measures, be ensured that formative and summative assessments were used in students’ cognitive assessment.