KARACHI, Feb 13: As the issue of composite examination has been settled, a meeting of the committee of chairmen (CoC) of secondary boards across the province is likely to be held next week to finalize the date of separate examination for class IX in the province.

The boards had given April 17 as the date for class X examination in view of the previous decision of the composite examination system, which would not be changed. However, the CoC would decide the new date for class IX in the light of the Sindh governor’s directives. Sources said that the meeting of the CoC was likely to be held on Feb 19.

Well-placed sources in the education circles told Dawn on Tuesday that the CoC might consider May 10 as the date for the commencement of class IX exam. After the CoC meeting, another meeting of the Academic Committee would be convened to decide the part of syllabus from which the exam would be conducted.

Sources said the exam for class IX could not be given in April as there might be 300,000 students across the province to take the exam.

In the Karachi board alone, 120,000 students had appeared in class IX exam last year and more than that number were expected this year. The Sources said that sending forms to thousands of schools and sending admit cards after verification of submitted forms was a lengthy process and it would take time.

Besides, the most of the students of class IX read book-I of biology and chemistry as the second edition of these books in bulk was not available in the market. This aspect would be considered in the Academic Committee meeting to be held after the meeting of the CoC. There would be bright chances that the exam would be held from book-I of biology and chemistry instead of the second edition of these books which could not be taught in various schools, they added.