ISLAMABAD: In the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, the government has postponed all examinations including those of boards and the Cambridge system till June 15.
Federal education minister Shafqat Mahmood announced that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15, amid a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after a special National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting on Tuesday, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said O and A level exams had been canceled and would now take place in the October-November cycle.
However, A2 exams will keep running for those students who want to appear for the purpose of applying to foreign universities, he added.
No exams will take place in the country till 15th of June, decides NCOC. A level and AS exams have been cancelled as well. Only exception is given to A2 exam, that will take place under strict SOPs. Federal Minister for Education @Shafqat_Mahmood pic.twitter.com/uoKtqE1kI0
— Ministry of Education and Professional Training (@EduMinistryPK) April 27, 2021
The minister said: “Officials had decided during the last NCOC meeting on April 18 that exams will proceed as planned. Though, after that, to date, the infection rate increased shot up,” he added.
The country seems to be headed towards a complete lockdown in areas witnessing mostly high positivity ratios. “Hence, one of the decisions we took today through consensus, was that all exams from today till June 15 will be canceled,” Mehmood said.
The minister said that all board exams for grades 9, 10, 11, 12 that were to begin in late May, will now be postponed.
He said, “We will continue to monitor the situation. In the third week of May, we will reassess if a further postponement is in order or if we can hold them at that time. So if exams take place after June 15, they may continue in July and even August,” he explained.
the minister said that students of O Level will now have to appear for exams in the October/November session and the same will apply to AS and A-Level students.
He said that certain A-Level students who are in the second year of A-Level (A2) — who he said amount to about 20,000 — will suffer if the exams are delayed as their progress will be delayed by a year, and so for their facilitation, exams will be held in the current session as well.
Students will not be charged extra for appearing in the October/November session, the education minister clarified. He said that for the ease of students seeking admission to universities, the application deadlines will be extended to January so that students have no problems in applying to universities after appearing for exams late.
The minister said that from now on, no exam venue will allow strength of more than 50 students. Law enforcement agencies will be deployed to the venue so there are no crowds outside venues.
“Parents should rest easy that now when the COVID-19 situation is taking a turn for the worse, the students will not be forced to take exams. “So this decision has been made in a collective spirit and under what we view to be better for the future of children,” Mehmood said. He said a formal review will be carried out on May 15 to reassess the decisions made.
The Ministry of Interior today (Tuesday) banned tourism and travel across the country during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays following a surge in coronavirus infections.
A meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) was held where important decisions were taken by the body. A press release issued by the ministry announced that the NCOC had decided to ban tourism from May 8-16.
