Shafqat Mahmood dismisses rumors regarding cancellation of 9 and 11 exams

Federal Education Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood debunked rumors regarding the cancellation of examinations for 9 and 11 grades and said that “there is no truth” in it.

To dispel the rumor that examinations for 9 and 11 grades have been canceled, the minister took to the micro-blogging site and said that the exams will take place according to the timetable of the respective boards.

Earlier, the rumors were circulating that in view of a spike in coronavirus cases in the country, the government is considering canceling examinations for 9 and 11-grade students.

A day before, the minister had also announced that intermediate exams in the country will be commenced after June 15 and students will not be promoted without exams this year.

"I am very hopeful," he said about holding examinations while speaking at a televised show.

Highlighting the students demand to give school assessed grade, Mahmood said that if examinations do not take place, then no one will study, “and that is why the (O/A- level) exams — that have been postponed — will be conducted in October and November," he said.

Last month, owing to the rising cases of coronavirus in the country, Mahmood and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. Failsal Sultan had announced the cancellation of exams till June 15 as per the suggestion of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

"Exams of 9, 10, 11, and 12, which were supposed to begin from the end of May, have been delayed further," the minister said. "No board exams will be held till mid-June (June 15)."

However, the minister said that another meeting will be held in the third week of May to evaluate the situation and decide whether the exams will be further delayed or not.

"So if exams take place after June 15, they may continue in July and even August," the minister explained.

Speaking about Cambridge exams, the minister said that O level and A level exams will now be commenced in the October and November round.

"Those students who wish to seek admission in Pakistani universities will be able to do so until January as the government will take the universities on board in this regard," the minister said.

The minister also said that A2 students are required to appear in the May June round, as the deferment does not apply on A2. The exams are being held for A2 with strict compliance with Coronavirus protocols.