Shaukat Hayat Buneri
The coronavirus has affected every aspect of life and everything has become uncertain. In this precarious situation, there are many losses that may not be remedied. A recent example of this is the new formula for matriculation and intermediate examinations. First I want to share a message which has been very popular for the last several days and is being shared in many groups. In the current situation in Corona, there is pressure on the government from all sides. Shopkeepers say: open shops, industrialists say: open industries, transporters say: open transport but fortunately for our students that none of them demanded to open a school, college or university. Our Ministry of Education has taken these decisions keeping in view the sentiments of the students.
According to the formula of the federal government, in this situation, all the examinations conducted by the Boards of Education have been canceled and it has been proposed to promote the students in the next classes without examinations. According to the proposal, all the students of 9th class will be promoted in 10th class without any allocation and next year marks of 9th class will be given equal to the marks obtained in 10th class. Half of the total marks of the practical will be given to all the students, the remaining half of the marks of the practical will be given in proportion to the marks obtained in theory. The result will be announced by marking the recent theory papers of 10th class. The boards suggest that practical will not be taken. If the papers of 10th class are not marked then equal marks of 9th class will be given.
Similarly, all the students of 11th class will be promoted to 12th class while the marks of the current students of 12th class will be given equal to the marks of 11th class. Students will be given an opportunity to retake the exam to increase their marks. On the other hand, the Boards of Education are considering giving 4 to 6% extra marks to 10th and 12th class candidates, including not promoting private students. The Federal Ministry of Education has obtained data on matriculation and intermediate students from the boards. According to official figures, about 4 million students have been enrolled in 29 education boards and 3 technical boards across the country this year, with 30 to 35 per cent of them appearing as private candidates.. According to the new formula, the results of each board for the last three years will be reviewed and the candidates will be promoted in proportion to their marks. The Ministry of Education has convened an important meeting on Monday, May 11. The chairmen of the education boards across the country have been directed to attend the meeting on video link. In situations caused by the corona virus, governments face difficulties in making decisions. Tough decisions have to be made to make people’s lives safer. The suggestions made in the field of education are also a reflection of the difficulties and tough decisions of the government.
These suggestions may be given after much deliberation but their implications are many. For example, if a child was ill during the 9th grade exams or there were conditions at home that prevented him from paying full attention, does the government now want him to improve his marks in the 10th grade as well? Don’t be given a chance. Let’s look at it in reverse. A child has been preparing well during 9th grade. He has worked hard and got good marks. Now his attitude towards education has deteriorated during 10th grade. The interest is not the same as before, but the government wants to give it extra marks this year in return for last year’s hard work. Would it be rational to implement this policy or proposal in this way?
Another big problem is the children from poor families who work hard to run their homes and take time off to study, but now the government wants to prevent these private enrollment students from being promoted for a year. Go and when the conditions are right, join the board exam and go to the next class. Will it meet the requirements of justice? Separating 30 to 35 per cent of the total candidates appearing as private candidates, on the one hand, and a large number of poor and compelled children on the other, pushing them back one year. Won’t there be enmity between the poor? Many such questions arise from these suggestions.
Another big question is what will be the policy of admission in medical colleges and engineering universities for those who have completed FSC pre-medical or pre-engineering under this policy? If the merit list is made on the basis of the results prepared in this way, then what will be the standard of medical and engineering? One answer to this can be given that there will be separate entrance tests for medical and engineering so there will be no problem. That’s right, but one aspect of it is that students are left out of the merit list by a difference of four point or five percent and then the same is the basis of the entrance test. What will happen to it?
Last but not the least , the students study at university level should also be given a chance to promote to next class without any exam as they have also been affected by prevailing situation in the wake of corona virus.
