Govt decides to promote students without exams
NUZHAT NAZAR
ISLAMABAD: Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood on Thursday said that board examinations for matriculation and intermediate will not be held this year, and the students who had not taken exams of 9th and 11th classes have been promoted to next grades.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, the education minister said that all decisions relating to education sector under the Covid-19 situation have been made with consensus of all boards.
It has been finally decided to promote students of class 9 to 12 based on their performance of the previous year, the minister said.
They include regular as well as private students.
They will not need to take composite exams next year; rather they will take one-year exam.
The marks of their previous class will be awarded based on their performance in the next class.
He said only those students will be promoted whose performance in previous exams is found to be satisfactory.
He said a three percent increase has been made in previous results of those students based on statistical formulae.
The minister said that those students who failed in 40 percent of subjects will be given passing marks, while the students who failed in more than 40 percent of subjects have to take the special examination.
“All those students who are not satisfied with their results and those who want to take composite exams will be able to sit for special exams,” he added.
He further said that students in class 10 and 12 will be promoted based on their performance in classes 9 and 11.
He said the results will be calculated on a cumulative basis and not subject-wise.
The minister said the students desirous to participate in special exams should indicate to their respective boards by first of July this year.
The examinations could be held anywhere between September to November this year.
Replying to a question, he said over 200 universities exist in Pakistan that are largely independent in decision making in their matters.
Last week, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood announced the cancellation of all board exams across the country as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-I9.
Speaking after the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting in Islamabad, he said that it has been agreed in the meeting that all educational institutes across the country will remain closed till July 15.
