SSC exams to be held in two phases this year

The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) on Sunday announced it would be holding the annual Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations in two phases due to a shortage of teaching staff who are scheduled to perform census duties during March.

BSEK Chairman Prof Dr Saeed Uddin while addressing media personnel said the first phase of examinations for the General and Private groups would be held from March 28 to April 15, while candidates of the Science Group would appear for their exams between April 15 and May 3.

The BSEK’s presser came amidst rumours and uncertainty that had gripped the annual examinations ever since the government decided on taking public sector teachers’ help during the population census.

As per the BSEK’s management the decision was taken to facilitate teachers performing additional duties as well as ease the process of examinations.

The board was reported to have completed all necessary arrangements to hold examinations as per the scheduled dates, and had also set up five centres, one for each district, for timely distribution of Admit Cards and Date Sheets to students.

This year around 353,466 students would appear for the matriculation examinations through the Karachi board – a five percent increase as compared to the previous year.

A total of 82 examination centres have been set up for the 45,186 students of General Group, of which 49 are for female candidates and 33 for male candidates; for the Science Group, a total of 308,280 candidates have been registered, among whom 150,801 students are males and 157,479 candidates are females.

Prof Saeed Uddin further mentioned that 318 examination centres were set up for the Science Group with 173 for boys and 145 for girls, whereas 122 private schools were also to be used as examination centres.

“We have also formed a special vigilance team which will visit exam centres and submit reports on a daily basis. Teams comprising city commissioner, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and high-ranking police officials will also be paying surprise visits in all districts, while teams comprising senior teachers had also been formed to keep a check on cheating,” the board’s chairman claimed.

Upon the BSEK’s request, the city administration had also imposed Section 144 at all examination centres, whereas all nearby photocopy shops will also remain closed during exam hours.

Among other measures taken to keep the system transparent, examination papers would be delivered to all exam centres under the watch of armed security guards who would remain in the centre till the answer sheets were collected and submitted to the board office.

A letter requesting K-Electric to exempt all examination centres from power cuts during exam hours had also been written, Prof Saeed Uddin stated.