Rush of high-achievers: Students and parents demand rechecking of exam papers

The managements of universities and colleges are identifying the explanation to offer admissions to college students who've secured full marks (1100) in matriculation and intermediate exams, as a result of Promotion Examination Policy of 2021 of the boards of intermediate and secondary education (BISEs) in Punjab.

The parents and students have shown concerns regarding the admission merit criteria of colleges and universities.

The admissions were earlier based on the marks obtained by the students in matric and intermediate but due to the recent policy, the results show discrepancies and a high number of students have secured full or 98% marks in the exams.

According to the policy, candidates were required to take examinations of optional subjects and marks obtained in optional subjects would be counted as the marks for compulsory subjects.

According to the policy, candidates were required to sit in the examination of only optional subjects if they seek improvement in part one’s marks.

Whereas, matriculation students were required to opt for mathematics exams along with optional subjects if they wanted to improve their marks. “If a student fails all optional subjects, they will have to appear in the examination again,” the notification reads. Candidates who passed optional subjects would be given 50% marks in practical exams.

According to reports, Punjab University Registrar Dr Khalid has said that the university will open admissions in BS programmes on the basis of intermediate and matric marks.

He said that merit lists would be made keeping matric and intermediate results as the criteria.

Moreover, University of Engineering and Technology Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mansoor Sarwar said all the candidates who seek admission to engineering subjects will have to appear in the entrance test like past.

He said they would devise a merit list on the basis of 70 per cent intermediate marks and 30 per cent entrance test marks. The date for admission entrance test is extended to Oct 25 as the results have been delayed.

However, the students and parents took to Liberty Chowk on Sunday to protest against the policy and discrepancies in the matric and intermediate results.

They said that the new policy and marking system of BISE Lahore has put their and their children’s’ future at risk and demanded a review of the marking and scrutiny of the exam results on immediate basis.