Future of Students at Stake as Sindh Delays Grace Marks’ Notification

The Sindh government’s characteristic sluggishness and lack of seriousness have jeopardized the academic future of thousands of students in Karachi. Like the rest of the province, annual exams for Intermediate Part I and II are scheduled to begin on April 28. Nearly 100,000 students in Karachi alone, registered under the Karachi Intermediate Board, are set to appear in this first phase of the exams.

However, with only 13 days remaining, the Board still has no appointed Chairman, resulting in delays in the release of the exam schedule and center lists. Additionally, no grace marks have been granted to Intermediate Part I students, despite recommendations from members of the provincial assembly.

Around 50,000 students aspiring to appear in Intermediate Part II (Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical) exams are still unsure whether they are required to retake the subjects they failed in Part I, or whether they will be granted grace marks under the recommendations of a committee formed by the Sindh Assembly.

The committee, chaired by Sindh Education Minister Sardar Shah and comprising members from various political parties, had recommended awarding up to 20% grace marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics to Intermediate Part I students from Karachi. These recommendations were based on the findings of a fact-finding committee led by former NED University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sarosh Lodhi.

Following a session in the Sindh Assembly on March 25, a press conference was held where members confirmed that students would receive these grace marks. The Department of Universities and Boards was tasked with drafting a summary for approval from the Chief Minister. Upon approval, a formal notification was to be issued. However, over 20 days later, no such notification has been released, and the matter remains unresolved.

When contacted by Express, Secretary of the Universities and Boards Department Abbas Baloch did not respond.

Meanwhile, if the notification is eventually issued, the Karachi Intermediate Board will have to undertake a lengthy administrative exercise to revise Intermediate Part I results and incorporate grace marks. This would involve retabulating results, printing new mark sheets, and distributing them to students— a process that could take at least one month. This is particularly problematic because students scheduled to appear in the Part II exams on April 28 have already filled their forms, listing the failed subjects from Part I.

Further complicating matters, Karachi’s Intermediate Board has had no Chairman for nearly two weeks. The Sindh government relieved Acting Chairman Prof. Sharaf Ali Shah of his duties, and although a new appointment was made, the individual has yet to assume office. Now, the government appears hesitant to hand over the charge to the expected candidate, Karachi Regional Director of Colleges Faqir Lakho.

With exams just 13 days away, the absence of a Chairman has stalled two critical actions: finalizing the exam schedule and issuing the center lists. Both require official approval from the Board Chairman. As a result, students still have no idea where they will be taking their exams or which subject they will be tested on which date.

When Express reached out to Acting Controller of Examinations, Zarina Chaudhry, she explained:

“Our preparation is complete, but the Chairman is our administrative head. Without their approval, we cannot release the exam schedule or inform students of their exam centers.”