Punjab Starts Reforming Examination Process

The Punjab government has established a seven-member Chief Minister’s Task Force on Examinations to review and reform the current assessment processes of the Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) and the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs). The task force evaluates their effectiveness and reliability to meet modern educational standards.

According to a notification available with Dawn, educationist Muzamil Mehmood will chair the task force. The other members include the special secretary of the School Education Department, the special secretary of the Higher Education Department, the managing director of the Punjab Curriculum & Textbook Board, the chief executive officer of the PEC, the secretary of BISE Lahore, and any additional members co-opted by the chairperson.

The task force is mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of the current assessment and examination processes of the PEC and BISEs, focusing on identifying strengths, weaknesses, and inadequacies within the existing system. It will also compare the current system with other parallel systems, such as those adopted by the Agha Khan Board, the Cambridge System, and other provinces.

In addition to the review, the task force will recommend a comprehensive framework and interventions to improve the examination system. This includes outlining the potential benefits of the proposed changes and suggesting a way forward for integrating the new examination system and assessment methods under the Punjab Boards Committee of Chairmen.

A task force member, speaking anonymously, revealed that the previous government had also attempted to reform the assessment system and had devised a policy. However, the current administration seeks to implement changes to this policy. The source emphasized the need to evaluate the effectiveness of the previous policy and address any existing weaknesses rather than completely overhauling it.

The source expressed concern over the lack of continuity in long-term policies, noting that each new government tends to change the assessment policy, leading to repetitive and often fruitless exercises. They suggested that the government consider aligning the examination system with international standards by introducing O and A levels in the province, rather than continuing with the matriculation and FSc systems. The source argued that the matriculation and FSc systems in Pakistan are not recognized by international institutions due to the outdated curriculum, which fails to meet the demands of the current digitalized world.