Managers strive to resolve issues and provide grades within a week, based on controller reviews
The results, announced last week, only indicated whether students passed or failed in individual subjects, without providing subject or total grades. PHOTO: AND
The Karachi Board of Secondary Education is being criticized for its “outdated and unprofessional practices” following the release of Class IX results for Science and General groups. More than 175,000 students are left in a state of confusion and distress as BSEK has failed to provide detailed mark sheets, leaving them in the dark about their actual scores.
The results, announced last week, only showed whether students passed or failed in individual subjects, without providing subject or total grades. BSEK said detailed marksheets will not be available for at least two weeks, preventing students from calculating their overall percentage or rank.
This approach has drawn strong criticism from students, teachers and parents. This is in stark contrast to modern assessment systems, such as those of the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and Punjab Boards of Education, which publish provisional mark sheets alongside results, clearly displaying subject-wise marks and total marks.
Ironically, the announcement of the results coincided with a meeting of Karachi’s school boards to discuss the digitalization of assessments, including the introduction of electronic grading and a new grading system.
BSEK President Ghulam Hussain Saho attended the meeting, where discussions focused on the future of digital assessments. However, despite claims of progress towards electronic marking and computerized assessment, the board has failed to ensure even the most basic digital transparency in the publication of results.
BSEK sources revealed that IT manager Muhammad Irfan accompanied the President to Islamabad immediately after the results were released, leaving the recently hired IT analyst Sain Dad without proper authority and direction. Examination controller Hamza Tagar, who took office just three months ago, acknowledged the system’s shortcomings.
Talk to The Express PK Press ClubTagar said: “We are aware of the issues and are working to resolve them. I have interviewed IT staff and we are committed to ensuring students will be able to access their grades within a week.”
Educationalists pointed out that this inefficiency reflects a broader problem of mismanagement within the school board. Haider Ali, president of the All Private Schools and Colleges Association, expressed his displeasure: “In Punjab, when the first year results are announced, students are immediately given provisional mark sheets with subject-wise details. Here, not only are the marks withheld, but even the total score is not disclosed – this is completely unjustifiable.”
Further investigation by The Express PK Press Club revealed that the Class IX Science Group Mathematics papers – which were initially intended to be assessed through the electronic marking system – were instead checked manually. Despite investing millions of rupees in printing e-marking-enabled answer sheets, the board has failed to make necessary logistical arrangements and outsource the verification process. As a result, the high-profile e-marking initiative effectively collapsed, wasting considerable public funds and adding to the frustration of students and parents.
