FDE policy sparks outrage as students barred from federal board exams

Islamabad:The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has come under fire for allegedly contradicting the government’s Education for All (EFA) policy by barring a significant number of students from appearing in the Federal Board's Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations as regular candidates.

According to a letter issued in October, the FDE has instructed the principals of its educational institutions to process student admissions for board classes strictly based on their performance in the send-up tests. The letter further states that students who fail to meet the required standards in these tests or do not fulfil the necessary attendance criteria will not be allowed to register as regular candidates. Instead, such students will be admitted as private candidates for the board examinations.

The letter also urged educational institutions to initiate awareness campaigns to motivate students to focus on their studies, emphasising the importance of consistent effort and dedication for a secure future.

However, this decision has drawn sharp criticism from parents, who have questioned the legal and moral authority of the FDE to deny their children the opportunity to appear as regular candidates. Many parents argue that this policy serves only to improve the FDE's overall results and performance metrics, rather than prioritising the welfare and education of students.

“How can they stop our children from appearing as regular students after they have been enrolled in Federal Government schools for 10 to 12 years?”, one parent questioned. “This policy is unjust and discriminatory”.

The parents have called on the FDE to reconsider its decision and align its policies with the Education for All initiative to ensure that every student has equal opportunities to excel academically.