The Board Committee of Chairmen of all nine educational boards in the province has approved major reforms to the examination system, ending the traditional manual method of paper marking and monitoring for matriculation and intermediate annual exams.
Under the new framework, biometric attendance will become mandatory for all male and female candidates appearing in examinations. From 2026, students registering for Class 9 and Class 11 will be required to provide thumb impressions.
Authorities will use these thumb impressions for biometric verification and entry into examination centers. Government and private schools will be responsible for making all biometric arrangements, including providing biometric devices and laptops.
Examination boards will only supply the required software. The committee has also approved a complete shift to digital paper marking. Examination boards will scan answer sheets and mark them on computer screens.
Officials say this move will help eliminate incorrect marking, calculation errors, and improve transparency in the assessment process. In addition, authorities have upgraded the science practical examination system.
Practical exams will now involve proper assessments instead of being treated as a formality. This year, officials will partially implement the reforms, beginning with biometric registration for Class 9 and Class 11 students.
CCTV cameras will also be mandatory at all examination centers this year. In Rawalpindi Division, authorities have set up 400 matric and intermediate examination centers, where the installation of CCTV cameras funded by students has already begun.