Schools and colleges under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) are under scrutiny for refusing to forward the board exam admissions of students who failed their send-up tests.
These students will need to either repeat the academic year or register as private candidates with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), raising concerns about its impact on dropout rates.
The practice, aimed at improving board exam results, has sparked criticism from parents and officials. Many students enrolled in these schools for years and passed previous exams but are now excluded from regular board admissions. Critics argue this reflects poor teacher performance and negligence by school administrators, despite the government’s substantial spending on education.
The October directive from the FDE stated that only students passing send-up tests or meeting attendance requirements would qualify for board admissions as regular candidates. However, officials fear this policy may lead to higher dropout rates, particularly as families struggle to afford the triple fees required for late admissions.
Federal Secretary for Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani defended the process, stating that admissions are merit-based, with multiple retakes offered to students. He assured that large-scale rejections would be reviewed, and action would be taken against schools or teachers found responsible for excessive failures. Wani also indicated that third-party audits could be conducted to address any discrepancies.
