KOHAT/LOWER DIR: A large number of students on Monday held protest demonstrations against the government’s decision to hold in-person examinations for grades 10 and 12.

The protesting students gathered at the Peshawar Square in Kohat and marched towards the Martyrs’ Square, chanting slogans against the physical examination decision.

They announced to boycott the physical examinations, and asked the Kohat education board to hold online exams.

They said they were not prepared for physical examinations as online classes were often disrupted due to poor internet connection and other issues.

When contacted, Shaukat Hayat, chairman of the Kohat Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, told Dawn that holding examinations online was impossible because question papers could be leaked.

He said the students had got ample time to prepare for the examinations.

He said the students were demanding online examinations so they could sit together and solve the question papers by cheating.

He said the board had made a firm decision to conduct physical examinations at any cost.

To a question, he said all the students, including those from the adjoining tribal belt, had got the course books and the argument that they were unable to take online classes due to poor internet connection was uncalled-for.

Also, students of private educational institutions from Lower Dir and Malakand on Monday staged a protest rally at Chakdara against the government’s decision to hold physical examinations for grades 10 and 12.

The Team Justice Movement for Youth Malakand division, an organisation representing students of private educational institutions, had given call for the protest.

The protesters blocked the Chakdara-Chitral Road for some time and chanted slogans against the government and the federal education minister.

Addressing the gathering, Syed Umar, the organiser of the youth movement, president Anjuman-i-Tajaran Chakdara Khawaja Faizul Ghafoor and others demanded of the government to postpone the board examinations for grades 10 and 12 for two more months.

The speakers said the board authorities should issue the date sheets at least two months before the commencement of the examinations.

Later, Adenzai assistant commissioner Syed Abdullah and BISE Malakand controller of examinations Mian Wazir Jan held talks with the protesters, after which they dispersed.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2021