Sindh Govt Considers Grace Marks for 1st Year Students After Exam Controversy
written by Sidra BatoolThe Sindh government is considering granting grace marks to first-year students who failed their annual exams after a fact-finding committee highlighted major flaws in the assessment process.
Committee Recommends Grace Marks
A report submitted by the Sindh Assembly’s fact-finding committee to Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah has recommended awarding grace marks ranging from 15% to 20% to affected students. The proposal aims to compensate for discrepancies in the marking and evaluation process conducted by the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK).
The committee, led by NED University Vice Chancellor Dr. Sarosh Lodhi, found multiple issues in the assessment process, including errors in totaling marks, tabulation mistakes, and data entry problems. The report also raised concerns about the significant gap between Karachi’s results and those of other education boards in Sindh, despite having the same syllabus and government-appointed teaching staff.
To further investigate the issue, the committee invited 20 students who had failed their first-year exams despite scoring A1 grades in Matriculation. Only five of these students attended the review session with their parents, where their answer sheets were re-examined. Some students were found to have made basic mistakes, such as spelling “Karachi” incorrectly.
Subjects Eligible for Grace Marks
Based on its findings, the committee has suggested awarding additional marks in specific subjects:
- 15% for Physics and Mathematics
- Up to 20% for Chemistry
However, no grace marks have been recommended for Zoology, Botany, Islamic Studies, or Pakistan Studies.
Sources indicate that the Sindh Assembly’s education committee will soon make a final decision on the recommendations. If approved, the grace marks policy could impact students’ participation in the upcoming annual exams, scheduled to begin on April 15.
The report has intensified the debate on educational reforms, with students, parents, and teachers demanding greater transparency in the examination system. The Sindh government is expected to take necessary steps to ensure fair assessment practices in future exams.
