Federal govt’s indecisiveness jeopardises students' future

RAWALPINDI: The Covid-19 pandemic has put the future of students at stake as thousands of students of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th are facing an uncertain situation as to whether the government will take exams of compulsory subjects only or that of all subjects. The students of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are in the grip of different kind of rumors that government will once again change date sheet of the intermediate examinations.

The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Rawalpindi Official Spokesman Arsalan Cheema, told ‘The News’ that government has decided to take exams from July 10, 2021. We will take exams of compulsory subjects only but are totally helpless before government decision, he said. We hope that the government does not change the date sheet once again but if they do it again, we could not do anything, he said. “We understand the mental agony of students but we are helpless,” he claimed.

First the government decided to take examinations from June 26 and the federal board followed that order, but, now the government has fixed July 10 as the new date, besides they have decided to take exams of compulsory subjects only. This shuffling of date and issue of subjects, has left the students both private and regular students in an uncertain situation and they are visiting the board office to know the factual position. Talking to ‘The News’ the students of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th strongly protested against non-serious attitude of government over this critical issue putting the future of thousands of students on stake. They said that they despite the fact that have not attended classes for over five months the government is insistent in taking exams. Muhammad Abid Johar a 2nd year student said that there are only four colleges for boys in Rawalpindi, and every year a large number of students are deprived of admissions, as they can’t qualify for the admissions on merit. These colleges have already displayed two merit lists and hundreds of students are fearful that they would be left high and dry with no option but to appear as private candidates in the intermediate and graduation examinations next year, if their names do not appear on the merit lists.

Nadia Sultan a 1st year student said that majority of students were upset due to the indecisive behavior of government about the exact date of examinations. The board officials were also not clear whether the government will take exams or not, she said. We are confused about when and what to prepare for in the exams. The parents are also equally disturbed, as they are worried about the future of their children and have asked the government to pay attention to the education sector.