In Sindh, matric and inter exams will be held in May, the decision to confiscate mobile phones

Karachi: Matriculation and Intermediate examinations in Sindh will be held in May, it has been decided to enforce Section 144 around the examination centers and to confiscate mobile phones for bringing them to the examination centers.

A meeting regarding board examinations was held under the chairmanship of Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah and Minister of Universities and Boards Muhammad Ali Malkani. In the meeting, the arrangements for matriculation and intermediate board examinations to be started in Sindh from next month were reviewed. Secretary Universities and Boards Noor Ahmed Samun, Secretary School Education Zahid Ali Abbasi, Secretary College Education Sadaf Anees Shaikh, Chairman of Boards, Secretaries and other concerned officers attended the occasion.

In the meeting, a briefing was given by the board heads regarding the matriculation and intermediate examinations starting next month. During the meeting, it was informed that the preparation for taking the matric exams in the first week of May and the intermediate exams at the end of May has been completed.

250 matriculation examination centers have been set up in Karachi in which 350,198 candidates will appear. 73,724 candidates from government schools and 276,474 candidates from private schools will appear for the Karachi Matriculation Examination.

290,220 candidates will appear in Karachi for the intermediate examination. The heads of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana and Sukkur divisions also gave a briefing in the meeting.

Minister of Universities and Board Muhammad Ali Malkani said that the Sindh government is serious about improving the examination system in every way. Help will be taken from the Sindh Home Department regarding security arrangements during the examinations, recommendations will be made regarding the implementation of Section 144 around the examination centers, vigilance teams should play their effective role to monitor the examinations in any case if paper out. If a complaint is received, action will be taken against the chairman of the concerned board.

It was unanimously decided in the meeting that it will be strictly prohibited to bring mobile phones in the examination center. In case of export of mobile phone, the phone will be confiscated.

On this occasion, Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah said that we all have to play our role in stopping copying. The first responsibility to stop copying falls on the parents, then the teachers, then the administration, and then society at large. All possible co-operation with the Boards will be provided by the Education Department.

The provincial education minister said that a third party assessment will also be done regarding the results of the board. Third party assessment of results will also help in checking the complaints regarding marks within the board.

Paperless board records, digitization of records, making assessment of examination copies more effective and other arrangements were discussed in the meeting.