Key Points:
- Parents told to submit affidavits affirming that their children will appear in annual exams as private candidates should they fail the sendup exam
- Sources reveal FDE seeks to portray good results for schools before international donors by excluding low-performing students
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFE&PT)’s order mandating that students pass sendup exams to be eligible to appear in the annual exams as regular candidates has stirred controversy.
The ministry, through the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) – the agency that oversees public schools in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) – has asked parents to submit an affidavit affirming that their children in grades IX to XII will appear in exams as private candidates should they fail the mock exam.
Sources privy to the matter revealed on the condition of anonymity that the government agency seeks to portray good results for schools before international donors that have funded public education initiatives.
They also claimed that excluding low-performing pupils would artificially improve the overall passing ratio of schools, thereby, exonerating an inefficient schooling system.
Pakistan is facing a critical educational crisis that is jeopardising the future of its huge youth bulge.
With 25.3 million children aged 5 to 16 out of school, the situation is not different in Islamabad – the country’s capital – where over 83,000 children lack access to education, as per statistics.
How it started?
Earlier, FDE Colleges Director Professor Shahid Mehmood Abbasi issued a notification addressing heads of schools and colleges, stating that “The registration of students will be processed with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) – the examination authority – strictly based on their performance in the sendups slated for January 2025.
“The mock tests must be conducted rigorously to instil a sense of responsibility in students, making them aware that their admission will be forwarded to the FBISE only if they ensure good results,” it read.
The notification also asked all educational institutions to initiate an awareness campaign.
How was it received?
Following the official directive, a wave of discontent hit parents who voiced concerns, expressing their fears that this decision would only deepen the educational crisis.
“This is unreasonable!” they exclaimed. “How can we expect our children to thrive under such pressure? This will only push more students out of the system!”
For many parents, the stakes are high. If their children failed to comply, they would be labelled as dropouts, a label that carry a weight of stigma and disappointment.
Muhammad Yaqub, father of a student in grade 9 at Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) said, “This is a ridiculous decision”.
He added that the issues of low enrolment and quality cannot be addressed with such policy priorities.
“Now we are left with the only option of enrolling our children in private educational institutions. We know how much this option is fraught with financial burdens and limited accessibility,” he said.
Others contended that the move would only hold students accountable and exonerate officials from their low performance.
“We need solutions that inspire our children to excel in their academic endeavours, not decisions that drive them away from pursuing their education,” they urged.
They also hoped to ignite a dialogue that would lead to meaningful change.
Reaction from educators’ collective
Talking to WE News, Fazl-e-Maula, chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), expressed concerns regarding the recent policies implemented by the FDE and the education ministry.
He stated, “This conditional notification requiring an affidavit has left students in a precarious position. How can they focus on their studies when they know they won’t be recognised as regular students if they fail the sendup exams?
“This conditional notification requiring an affidavit has left students in a precarious position.” – Joint Action Committee Chairman Fazl-e-Maula
The JAC chairman pointed out that the FDE and the ministry have not declared winter vacations in Islamabad, despite the entire country being gripped by severe cold.
Other educational departments have already announced their holiday schedules.
“The FDE has set winter holidays from December 30, 2024, to January 8, 2025, and Saturdays are also included as working days,” he noted.
Attempts to reach the Federal Secretary for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training Mohyuddin Wani and Joint Secretary Syed Junaid Akhlaq for their comments went unanswered.
