While most of us will be enjoying sweets after Eid prayers, O and A level students will be busy solving their exam papers this year.
And it’s not just for the first day of Eid, which is most likely to fall on Wednesday, June 5th. Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) has planned to ruin all three days of Eid for the examinees by scheduling exams on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The decision has not gone down well with the students who think fasting, offering Taraweehs, and then preparing for exams is a hassle.
The students also believe that having exams on Eid will affect their concentration during the studies which may affect their grades.
Some of them also feared that they might as well miss the Eid prayer.
We have to be at the examination center by 8:30 am. Of course, we will not be able to offer Eid prayers.
When contacted for his opinion, Director-General of Privately Managed Institutions and Inspection for Sindh, Dr. Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui said:
CIE exams are conducted across the world on the same day, therefore once a date has been set; there is no room for change.
The exam schedule is equally turbulent for the parents as well. They believe that Eid is all about getting together and enjoying the auspicious occasion with fervor. The absence of their children will reduce the fun significantly.
According to the data, around 55,000 students will appear for the exams in Pakistan, and most of them are Muslims.
One of the parents said:
There is no Eid without children’s presence. CIE should have taken the religious festivals into consideration while preparing exams schedule.
