IPEMC decides to pass all students of grade 10,12: sources

• Sources inform Geo News that the students who fail will be given 33 grace marks.
• The education ministers decide to conduct matric and intermediate exams twice a year from next year.
• New session will commence from August next year.

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) on Monday decided to pass all students of grade 10 and 12, sources at the Ministry of Federal Education told Geo News.

Under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood, it was decided that the students who fail will be given 33 grace marks.

During the conference, the education ministers decided that keeping in view the situation of COVID-19, immediate re-examination was not possible.

Education ministers decided to conduct matric and intermediate exams twice a year from next year. However, the exams will not be termed supplementary exams.

Moreover, the education ministers have decided that matriculation examinations will be held in May-June next year, while a new session will commence in August.

During the conference, the ministers discussed the latest situation of COVID-19 in the country, the start of the new academic year, two examinations for secondary and higher secondary sections, implementation of the uniform national curriculum in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, and promotion policy.

Taking to his official Twitter handle after the meeting, Mehmood tweeted: "Important decisions in inter-provincial education ministers conference. Board exams will be held in May-June and next academic year will start from August next year."

The minister added that O and A level exams will be held as per schedule, while universities will make their own timetable for exams.

Sindh's take on IPMEC's decisions

However, on the other hand, Sindh did not agree with Shafqat Mahmood's announcements, Education Minister Sardar Shah told Geo News.

Shah said: "Sindh government does not agree with all the decisions taken during the IPEMC.

The provincial minister said that annual examinations have already been conducted in Sindh. "The province conducted all examinations under proper SOPs," he maintained.

Shah added that the proposal for conducting examinations twice a year would be presented in the steering committee meeting.

"The decision of the steering committee will be considered the final decision," Sindh's education minister added.