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Express Tribune
02-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Intermediate exams schedule announced
Female students put their learning to the test as they tackle their Secondary School Certificate (Matric) exams at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School-1 Jacob Lines examination centre. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS Listen to article The first phase of Karachi's annual intermediate examinations for 2025 is set to begin on Monday, May 5, with over 126,500 students expected to appear across various science and home economics groups. According to the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK), over 126,500 students are expected to appear in the exams, which will run until Thursday, May 29, in both morning and evening shifts. More than 92,000 students from Pre-Medical, Pre-Engineering, and Home Economics groups will take their exams in the morning shift from 9am to 12pm. Meanwhile over 34,500 candidates from the General Science group will appear in the evening shift from 2pm to 5pm. A total of 182 exam centres have been established across the city — 122 for the morning shift and 60 for the evening. Of these, 36 centres have been declared highly sensitive. BIEK Chairman Prof. Ghulam Hussain Sohoo said that all arrangements for fair and transparent exams have been finalised. Two central monitoring cells have been established at the Karachi Commissioner's Office and BIEK to oversee the process and prevent cheating. In addition, complaint cells will operate from Deputy Commissioners' offices in each district, staffed with board representatives. Considering the heatwave forecast during the examination period, the board has written to the Sindh Emergency & Rescue Service 1122 requesting two ambulances for the central control room. The Sindh Health Department has also been requested to set up first aid camps and ensure that first aid kits and ambulances are available outside each exam centre.
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Karachi board postpones intermediate exams, new date announced
Female students put their learning to the test as they tackle their Secondary School Certificate (Matric) exams at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School-1 Jacob Lines examination centre. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS Listen to article The Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) announced the postponement of the annual intermediate examinations for 2025, originally scheduled to start on April 28. The exams will now commence from May 5. The decision was made following directives from the board chairman, citing two main reasons for the delay. Firstly, the ongoing process of awarding grace marks in mathematics, chemistry, and physics for the 2024 first-year science pre-medical, pre-engineering, and general science groups is yet to be completed. Secondly, several examination centres are still occupied with matriculation exams that began on April 8 and are set to continue until May 8. Officials said the overlap necessitated adjustments to maintain the exam system's organisation and ensure centre availability. Students, educational institutions, and parents have been advised to continue preparations according to the new schedule. BIEK stated that any further updates or changes would be communicated through its official website ( and its verified social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Yesterday, Sindh government's Department of Universities and Boards issued an official notification granting grace marks to students appearing in the Intermediate Part-I (Pre-Medical and Pre-Engineering) annual examinations of 2024. The decision includes awarding 15% to 20% grace marks in key science subjects. The notification was issued following the approval of the provincial cabinet during its meeting held on April 15. According to the directive, students will receive 20% grace marks in Chemistry and 15% in both Physics and Mathematics. The Karachi Board of Intermediate Education has been informed of the decision, and implementation instructions have been issued accordingly. The notification, signed by Sharifuddin, Section Officer for Boards in the Department of Universities and Boards, directs the Chairman of the Intermediate Board Karachi to proceed with the necessary arrangements to apply the cabinet's decision. It is important to note that currently, the Karachi Intermediate Board does not have a permanent chairman. The position is temporarily held by the Chairman of the Karachi Matriculation Board.
Express Tribune
21-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Inter exams put off by nine days
The Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) annual examinations of XI-XII for the year 2025 have been delayed. The pre-engineering, pre-medical and science general group exams that were to start on April 28 will now commence from May 6 or later. Due to delay in the first phase of exams, the second phase, which includes Commerce and Arts, will also begin late. Officials have cited multiple reasons for the delay in exams including, unavailability of exam centres, changes in the previous first-year results due to grace marks, and the absence of a chairman at the board, resulting in lack of exam preparations. A responsible officer of Universities and Boards Department told The Express Tribune that according to the information received from Board of Secondary Education Karachi indicates that matriculation exams will continue in Karachi until May 2. Many of the current exam centers are being used for matric exams and are also designated for the Intermediate exams. Therefore, after the matric exams conclude, these centers will be converted for Intermediate exams. Another reason for the delay is the change in previous first-year results due to grace marks. It's worth noting that, according to initial decision of Department of Education's Steering Committee, matric exams in Sindh were supposed to begin on March 15 and Intermediate exams on April 8. However, as the matric exams approached, some private school associations raised concerns that it would not be feasible for students to appeared in exams during the month of Ramazan. Consequently, the Steering Committee held another meeting and approved the rescheduling of matric exams to April 8 after Eidul Fitr, with Intermediate exams to start the same day. Now, with further delays, Intermediate students will once again be taking their exams in extreme heat, as has happened in the past. This delay in results will also impact university admissions and the start of the new academic session.
Express Tribune
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Uncertainty grips students as grace marks decision delayed
Female students put their learning to the test as they tackle their Secondary School Certificate (Matric) exams at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School-1 Jacob Lines examination centre. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS The future of thousands of students in Karachi hangs in the balance due to the delay in issuing a notification regarding grace marks for students who failed in the HSC first-year exams. Approximately 100,000 students preparing for their intermediate examinations under the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) remain unaware of the final exam schedule and their centre details. Despite exams being scheduled to begin on April 28, the Board has not released the necessary information due to the absence of a chairman. A committee formed by the Sindh Assembly, led by Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, recommended granting up to 20 per cent grace marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics to first-year Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical students who were declared failed last year. This recommendation was based on a fact-finding committee's report led by former Vice Chancellor of NED University Dr Sarosh Lodhi. The decision was announced via a press conference, where it was stated that the Department of Universities and Boards would prepare a summary for the Chief Minister's approval, after which a formal notification would be issued. However, more than 20 days have passed, and the department has yet to release the notification. As a result, around 50,000 students from Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical groups are still uncertain whether they will receive grace marks or need to retake their first-year exams. This lack of clarity is causing widespread anxiety and hampering their preparation for the upcoming second-year exams. Compounding the issue is the absence of a chairman at BIEK. The previous acting chairman, Professor Sharaf Ali Shah, was retired, and the newly appointed chairman has not yet assumed office. The Sindh government appears indecisive about officially assigning the role to the expected candidate, Faqeer Lakho, currently serving as Regional Director of Colleges in Karachi. The exam forms for second-year students - due to appear on April 28 - have already been submitted, including details of any first-year subjects they failed. If grace marks are awarded now, the Board would have to re-tabulate results, reprint mark sheets, and distribute them to students - a process that would take at least a month. When contacted by The Express Tribune, Secretary of the Department of Universities and Boards Abbas Baloch did not respond. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Acting Controller of Examinations Zarina Choudhry stated that while exam preparations are complete, the chairman's approval is mandatory for releasing the final schedule and exam centre details. With just 13 days to go, students are still in the dark.
Express Tribune
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Lahore board announces schedule for 9th grade annual exams
Listen to article The Lahore Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has confirmed that the 9th-grade annual exams will proceed as per the official date sheet. The exams, scheduled for March 28 and April 4, will be held according to the announced timetable. The spokesperson for the Lahore Board stated that the exam on March 28 will include papers for Quran Translation and Ethics for Non-Muslims. On April 4, students will sit for exams in subjects including Fashion Designing, Art, Model Drawing, Physiology, and Environmental Studies. The announcement reassures students and teachers that the examinations will be conducted smoothly, in accordance with the previously issued schedule. On the other hand, the Sindh Assembly's fact-finding inquiry committee, tasked with investigating objections regarding the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi's (BIEK) XI exam results, has submitted its report. The report identifies irregularities and mismanagement in areas such as assessment, record-keeping, and mark sheets. As a result, the committee has recommended awarding grace marks to all students. Sindh Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah, who chairs the committee, stated that Karachi's education boards have been involved in malpractice for the past eight years and must be reformed. The inquiry, led by Dr. Sarosh Lodhi, Vice-Chancellor of NED University, uncovered significant flaws in the BIEK's operations. The committee has been authorised to hold those responsible accountable. It was recommended that grace marks be added to first-year students' results: 15% in Physics, 20% in Chemistry, and 15% in Mathematics. Shah also called for reforms in the board system and suggested a centralised approach to oversee operations. He criticised the Karachi Intermediate Board for operating like a "mafia" and manipulating results, which has led to poorer performance compared to other boards. The committee's findings and recommendations will be presented to the Chief Minister.
