Latest news with #BritishCouncil
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Eroding CIE sanctity
Listen to article The benchmark for academic excellence, the Cambridge International Education (CIE) system is now grappling with an erosion of trust in Pakistan. What was long considered a gold standard for objective, merit-based assessment is being questioned due to cracks in the conduct of its examinations. Until recently, the British Council maintained exclusive authority over O and A Level exams in Pakistan, ensuring a centralised system with standardised controls. However, a shift over the past two years has allowed over 20 private schools, primarily in Karachi and Islamabad, to independently conduct these high-stakes assessments. With this decentralisation has come an alarming uptick in exam paper leaks and accountability failures. The recent leak of an AS-level Physics paper has sent shockwaves through the academic community. Whisper networks of leaked material for other subjects now taint what should be a level-playing field. Moreover, the absence of transparent inquiry outcomes or concrete disciplinary actions only compounds the sense of helplessness. Decentralisation, without robust oversight, is a recipe for disorder. When students sitting the same exam in different venues face radically different levels of security and fairness, the legitimacy of the entire examination process is called into question. The stakes are too high for complacency. Students spend years preparing for these exams, often at significant financial and emotional cost. For their future to be jeopardised due to administrative lapses or weak accountability is unacceptable. Cambridge International must move swiftly to restore faith by re-evaluating its decentralisation model or enforcing strict audit protocols for participating schools. Anything less would be a disservice. The credibility of Cambridge assessments has been a source of pride and a pathway to opportunity for thousands of Pakistani students. Let us not allow systemic carelessness to diminish a reputation built over decades.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Mangoes made my childhood sweeter'
Mangoes mean sticky fingers and long summer days. Back then, summer arrived with the smell of pickles, mango-splattered afternoons, and fights over the last aanti. CT speaks to four self-confessed mango lovers who recall their childhood memories. Actress Gargee RoyChowdhury's mango memories are dipped in simplicity and whole plate of love. 'Dudh, aam, kola diye makha bhaat was summer on a plate. It is my comfort food. But, the prized possession was always the aanti. We'd fight over who gets to cherish it.' Gargee said: 'No mango dessert now can beat that memory,' adding, 'Today, there are mango souffles and cakes, but nothing replaces the sweet comfort of dudh-aam-bhaat. ' Ekavali Khanna Actress Ekavali Khanna's summers were rooted in the quiet charm of her father's farmhouse in Barasat. 'We'd visit during my school holidays. I remember it having a huge mango orchard. I still remember the joy of watching mangoes being plucked and carefully arranged into huge jhuris. They were sent off to relatives, neighbours, and friends. Sharing mangoes was our way of nurturing bonds. It wasn't grand, but it was a deeply warm sentiment. ' I survived on just Dr Debanjan Chakrabarti, director, British Council, East and Northeast India, grew up in Ghatsila, where mango trees dotted every backyard. 'I was the designated climber among my friends, sometimes in our own garden, often in others. When neighbours complained, my dad's scoldings were inevitable, but part of the thrill,' he said. He added: 'During my upanayan ceremony, the dietary restrictions were made bearable only because of the sweet Himsagar mangoes I consumed. ' For musician Upal Sengupta shared that at his home, a Himsagar tree grew tall against all odds. 'Many said it wouldn't thrive, but it did,' he recalls. But harvesting was a group effort. 'We couldn't climb, so when someone did and tossed us mangoes, we had to catch them. It was serious business for us kids. We never let a single mango fall,' he shared with a grin. Quotes: The taste of aam dudh bhaat is still so fresh in my memory. It was what I looked forward to the most as a child –Gargee RoyChowdhuryFrom piles of raw mangoes, my dadima would carefully decide the ones that would be pickled. I don't even need to close my eyes to remember the aroma of it–Ekavali KhannaI still remember my grandma's tok daal. My mom still makes the best aam kheer with Himsagar & Langda mangoes – Dr Debanjan ChakrabartiCatching fresh Himsagar harvest is a loved childhood memory. It was a game with a sweet reward. And, we had to catch them and win–Upal Sengupta Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Will CIE lose its edge?
Once regarded as a gold standard in academic assessment, Cambridge International Education (CIE) is now facing increasing scrutiny in Pakistan. Following a recent shift that allowed private schools to independently conduct O and A Level examinations - previously handled solely by the British Council - reports of paper leaks, and lack of accountability have cast a shadow over the system. Stakeholders are questioning whether the integrity and global standing of Cambridge qualifications in Pakistan are being compromised. Until just two years ago, the British Council was the sole authority overseeing these exams in Pakistan. Now, over 20 private schools in Karachi and Islamabad are conducting the exams themselves. This decentralisation has raised serious concerns about transparency and security. Reports of exam paper leaks are on the rise, causing distress among thousands of students and their parents. Recently, an AS-level Physics paper was reportedly leaked and widely circulated on social media before the scheduled exam. Similar claims have emerged regarding other subjects. As more schools gain the authority to conduct exams independently, the risk of compromised exam integrity appears to grow proportionally. Cambridge International has acknowledged some of the leaks in a public Facebook statement, urging students to stay focused and promising investigations. However, the lack of transparency around these investigations - particularly the absence of shared findings or any disclosed disciplinary actions - has left stakeholders dissatisfied and concerned. Parents and students fear that ineffective preventive measures could lead to more leaks in the future. The decision to let private schools conduct exams reportedly stemmed from a former official at the Federal Ministry of Education. However, the ministry now appears to be powerless in addressing the fallout, including the ongoing paper leak scandal. While CIE administers the General Certificate of Education (GCE) O and A Levels in Pakistan, it's worth noting that these programmes were phased out in the UK in 1986 and have not been part of the official education system there for nearly four decades. Another point of contention is the continued use of the outdated alphabetical grading system (A* to E), as opposed to the numerical system (1 to 9) now standard in the UK. Some education experts argue that this inconsistency places Pakistani students at a disadvantage when competing globally for academic and professional opportunities. Pakistani parents spend an estimated Rs 30 billion annually on Cambridge exams. When papers are leaked and exams are not rescheduled, students are often graded based on predicted scores instead of their actual performance - undermining the entire purpose of standardised assessment. As a result, Cambridge is not only losing its academic superiority in Pakistan but also facing growing criticism from students who feel that the organisation's standards are now limited to curriculum design. With exam execution resembling local board practices, the credibility and perceived value of Cambridge qualifications in Pakistan is diminishing. When contacted by The Express Tribune, a Cambridge spokesperson said, "Cambridge has strict security protocols in place to safeguard exam materials, and these protocols apply equally to our partner institutions and schools." In response to questions about the outdated O-level system, the spokesperson added, "The qualification is internationally recognised and accepted by leading universities worldwide. The exams offer students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through written, oral, and practical assessments." Regarding the paper leaks, the spokesperson said: "We conduct prompt and thorough investigations into all evidence to ensure fairness in results. However, we can not comment on specific allegations during the exam period in order to keep students focused on their exams."
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Sinai Bedouin women share their heritage stories in stop motion at British Council - Heritage special
Sinai Bedouin women showcased heritage stories during the Story Telling for All exhibition, held over the weekend at the British Council in Cairo. The exhibition showcases several stop-motion films that 27 young Bedouin women from Dahab and Saint Catherine created from scratch. Handmade maquettes, storyboards, and signature handmade embroidery adorned the exhibition hall. Jessica Jacobs, researcher and geographer at Queen Mary University in London, explained that the exhibition is the outcome of research on the use of handicrafts and filmmaking as a methodology for exploring heritage tourism, homemaking, and community engagement in the UK, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt, with a focus on Bedouin women. "I have been working in Sinai for almost 30 years, and this exhibition is a follow-up to a project we did in Wadi Faynan, Jordan, between 2019 and 2022," Jacobs told Ahram Online. The stop-motion films reflected the daily life of Bedouin women in Sinai and highlighted key events in their heritage. These films portrayed wedding rituals, the Bedouin coffee setup, women's life journeys, and fishing rituals. However, some young women artists highlighted in the maquettes how a woman named Om Saad was happily living alone in her own house – a bold statement against the prevailing culture. At the heart of the exhibition stood a huge traditional Bedouin dress, the front of which was hand-embroidered by Gemeaa, a very popular and skilled Indigenous Bedouin artist. Other Bedouin women made the back, which was designed as a geographic depiction of Sinai, mapping the locations of flora and fauna scattered around the region. The women of Fan Sina, a handicraft project and local partner, sew the dress. Fan Sina, which translates to the Art of Sinai, is a creative economy initiative that promotes Bedouin women's empowerment in Saint Catherine. "Through Fan Sina Company, I started with five women, and now we have grown into 450 women in 19 groups. We would drive into the mountains to collaborate with them," explained Salima El Gebaly, founder of Fan Sina, to Ahram Online. Born and raised in Saint Catherine, El Gebaly explained that she has always admired embroidery and finds her hometown deeply inspirational. "Saint Catherine is a beautiful town. When you go to the mountains, you feel there is life, as if the mountain is talking to you. You find almond and fig trees, and grapes growing from the heart of the mountain, which impacts the souls of the people living there, especially the women, and makes them natural artists. When they see the beauty around them, they transform it through thread and needle into handwoven patterns—on their dresses, the sugar sacks they keep for their husbands on the backs of camels, and the bags of shepherds. She draws nature from her perspective—you might find 200 or 300 different shapes of the almond tree. Due to modernity, people have stopped wearing these traditional garments. Hence, the idea of preserving such ancient heritage and using it to generate revenue for Sinai women emerged," she concluded. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Your World empowers young people to become leaders and agents of change
The winner of the 2025 'Your World' competition by British Council Partner Schools is Scoris International School from Uganda. Their project addressing unemployment among women in their country was selected from 642 entries submitted by 3,210 students across 34 countries. Participants gain crucial skills in problem-solving, communication, and creativity, preparing them to tackle some of the world's challenges. Many past projects have led to sustainable initiatives that continue to make an impact on local communities, highlighting the programme's growing influence. HANÓI, Vietnam, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The British Council celebrates the 10th edition of Your World, a global video-making competition designed to equip young people with the skills to address the world's most pressing challenges. This initiative empowers students to develop critical thinking and creativity, applying cross-curricular knowledge to bring their learning to life and drive change in their communities. In this year's competition, 642 projects were submitted by 3,210 students from 34 countries. Your World continues to raise the bar, demonstrating the power of education in preparing young people to become global leaders. The theme of this edition, 'Skills for Sustainability – Equipping All Youth for the Future,' aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education and underscores the importance of equipping students with the tools to address global sustainability challenges. The British Council's Your World competition helps students develop essential academic, creative, and life skills. These skills include critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and digital literacy, while also giving students the confidence to propose solutions to real-world sustainability challenges. By empowering this new generation, the British Council supports the growth of confident, creative, and collaborative future leaders. Empowered to lead This year's global winners from Scoris International School in Uganda addressed women's unemployment, showcasing how Your World empowers students to apply cross-curricular knowledge and turn ideas into action. Beyond the competition, many projects have sparked sustainability efforts and community-driven initiatives, demonstrating how young people are driving change. The winning team this year helped to train tens of young adults and single mothers to run their own soap making and baking businesses. This year's East Asia regional winners from Cau Giay Secondary School in Vietnam initiated AI-powered English tutoring for children at a local SOS village. Duc Khanh – representing the Cau Giay Secondary School team – shared: 'I feel truly honoured to be part of a global competition like Your World, where we had the chance to connect with and learn from international friends. The competition helped me expand my worldview and better understand how young people in other countries think and act to drive positive change. It was an unforgettable and deeply inspiring experience for all of us.'The 11th edition of the Your World competition will open in September 2025. Visit our website for more information. About British Council Partner Schools British Council Partner Schools is a global community of over 2,300 schools, supported by the British Council, delivering UK qualifications. A trusted partner, we help improve education quality, supporting learners worldwide to achieve their potential through UK education and qualifications. We support Partner Schools in over 40 countries, transforming the lives of over 250,000 students each year. About the British Council The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people. Contact mggarcia@ jcascante@
