LAHORE: An ‘inordinate’ delay in the results of matriculation and intermediate by education boards has placed the universities and colleges of the province in something of a quandary over announcement of new admissions for academic year 2021-22.

The universities and colleges would announce new admissions in BS honours, associate degree programmes and intermediate class in August but they are unable to give a definite date [for admissions] due to delay in declaration of results. Although some of the universities had announced the schedule yet they would have to reschedule the admissions.

Most of the institutes, including Punjab University, University of Education, Lahore College for Women University, Home Economics University, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, had not yet issued admission schedules. As many as 1.8 million students appeared in matriculation and intermediate examinations.

Some of the universities which announced their admission schedule, had postponed it and would soon issue revised plan.

Earlier, the Punjab Boards Committee of Chairmen had announced schedule of announcing results of higher secondary school certificate (intermediate) on Sept 30 and secondary school certificate (matric) on Oct 16.

Later, all boards of intermediate and secondary education of the province had postponed the schedule due to delay in approval of the promotion policy from the provincial cabinet.

Punjab University registrar Dr Khalid Khan told Dawn that the uncertainty in announcement of results was creating problems for students, parents and universities of the province. He said the government should take special measures and address the problem immediately. “We have to develop a merit list with the help of the results of the students and if they do not get results it will be problematic for universities to give admission [without results],” he said.

Quoting an example, Mr Khan said the PU had a policy that it would not give admission to a third division student. And if they would come to know about that [third division] result when the student is already enrolled in the next class what they would do. He said the students would move courts if they would expel anyone with a third division.

PBCC Chairperson Prof Dr Kouser Raees told this reporter that matriculation and intermediate results were rescheduled due to delay in approval of the promotion policy 2021 from the provincial cabinet.

She said all boards had prepared their results and would announce it soon after the approval of the policy. She hoped the results would be announced in a week or two as the cabinet would soon accord approval to the policy.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2021