Pakistan’s education authorities have approved a major policy shift that will allow students greater flexibility when choosing academic streams at the intermediate level. The Inter-Board Coordination Commission (IBCC), during its 183rd meeting in Karachi, decided to end the long-standing restriction that tied intermediate group selection to a student’s matric background.
Under the new policy, students who completed matric in the arts stream may now enroll in pre-medical, pre-engineering, ICS, or any other intermediate group. Officials said the decision aims to remove barriers that have limited students’ academic and career choices for years.
The IBCC also approved a second key change for O- and A-level students. Those who passed two major subjects will now receive equivalence in the science group instead of humanities, a move intended to reflect their academic strengths more accurately.
The meeting further discussed the possibility of phasing out the traditional science and arts divisions at the matric level and replacing them with a standard Secondary School Certificate (SSC) offering flexible elective choices. However, the forum will take a final decision on this later.
IBCC Executive Director Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah said the new policies aim to support student growth and eliminate outdated restrictions. He confirmed that the commission has already begun issuing science-group equivalence certificates to qualifying O/A-level students.
He added that colleges and boards will receive instructions soon to implement open enrollment for first-year admissions starting from the next session.
