| Examination is one of the core focused parts of | | | | to be completed along with the chapters. Especially the |
| assessing students capability, which helps them to | | | | English Workbook is a burden for students, because |
| know that what they have learned during their | | | | even the teachers of most of the schools don't know |
| academic year. If the examinations are not conducted | | | | how to fill it. This year, the composite examination of |
| in a proper flow, then there might be a chance of | | | | the Aga Khan Board also took place in which at least |
| loosing some brilliant stars of the future ahead. In the | | | | 21% students are declared as fail. |
| recent years, we have seen that the problems such | | | | The curriculum was too heavy to meet the mind level |
| as lack of transparency in examination, unexpected | | | | of the students. Plus the composite examination |
| marks, wrong assessment system, bribery, rote | | | | system is considered as one of the burdens on |
| learning based curriculum, inefficient books, etc., have | | | | Pakistani students. The brilliant students, whose |
| become a routine of all the boards in our country, | | | | phenomenal works were once appreciated by the |
| which made people to think about the revival of the | | | | schools, got the least percentage in their composite |
| education system in Pakistan. | | | | examination this year. Few of the students also |
| Many initiatives are being taken by our government to | | | | complained that many irrelevant questions came in |
| increase the literacy rate of our country, but no body is | | | | their examination from the chapters, which were not |
| clearly changing the wrong-implemented education and | | | | even explained in the academic year by the schools. |
| examination system policies, which needs to be | | | | When we interviewed some schools teachers, they |
| focused vividly. Although, there are around 27 boards, | | | | told us that they were not aware about the irrelevant |
| which are catering examination in Pakistan, e.g. Sindh | | | | topics that came in the paper. One of the brilliant |
| Board, Federal Board, etc., but despite of all their | | | | students, Hussain did not get admission in the Aga |
| efforts, students are not satisfied yet with the | | | | Khan College, because he was told that his marks are |
| assessment and education system. | | | | not competitive. But the teachers of his schools told us, |
| After analyzing all these problems, The Aga Khan | | | | that he was the best student of the school throughout |
| University took this initiatives and after the approval, | | | | the academic year. Another student ABC torn his |
| formed a board, and claimed that the students will be | | | | mark sheet and left the AKU-EB forever. Most of the |
| given chance to show their capability without having | | | | private colleges have not taken AKU-EB students in |
| any unfair with them. The AKU-EB was created in | | | | their colleges due to low mark scores. The second |
| response to a group of schools in Karachi , who | | | | mock papers were also held this year for the second |
| appealed to Aga Khan University for an alternate | | | | batch students of the AKU-EB. The results shocked |
| examination board that encouraged the development | | | | most of the students, because most of the students |
| of reasoning in the students. On the encouragement of | | | | are declared as fail in at-least one of the subject. One |
| the Government of Pakistan, AKU-EB was granted | | | | student XYZ told me that she is good at Mathematics |
| the approval through an Ordinance in November 2002. | | | | and she had also given the O-levels examinations 2 |
| The AKU-EB also claimed and emphasized that their | | | | years back, but joined the Aga Khan Board to |
| examination system will be free from all the flaws. | | | | compete the Pakistani students. But knowing, that she |
| When the Parents and students heard of this board, | | | | failed in her Mathematic paper, distressed her. Another |
| they gradually took interest and entered their children | | | | student Zehra told us, that most of the questions in |
| to the schools, which catered The Aga Khan Board | | | | Chemistry, Mathematics and specially Islamiat were |
| Examination System. Finally, all the students and | | | | given that were not included in their school curriculum |
| parents were happy to see the bright future of their | | | | and were not taught to them. One more revealing |
| children. The schools started teaching the AKU-EB | | | | truth, which unveiled was the lack of transparency in |
| curriculum from 2005. | | | | the examination board. Due to certain city |
| The board gave certain guidelines to the schools and | | | | circumstances, few of the mock papers were delayed |
| teachers about the course books and how it was to | | | | in most of the schools. But it was taken in few of the |
| be taught; but the proper explanation of the curriculum | | | | schools on the commenced day, due to which the |
| was not given to the teachers professionally, due to | | | | paper leaked out. I personally saw three Mock Papers |
| which they failed to deliver that to the students. Most | | | | theft by the students of some schools, where the |
| of the schools even not recommended the standard | | | | mock papers were held on the same commenced |
| books to the students to practice from, and thus | | | | day. |
| based the curriculum on rote learning as same as of | | | | They sold that paper to the students, whose paper |
| other boards. Few of the schools even forced their | | | | was postponed. This view alarmed me. One of the |
| students to learn Sindh Board Books for the | | | | student, Munawwar, who bought that paper got the |
| examination. | | | | highest marks in his mock papers, although failed in |
| This all happened because the proper guidance of | | | | those subjects in his school examination. |
| books was not given to all the schools offering | | | | Half of the population of the students is now planning |
| AKU-EB. Only few schools such as Habib Girls, Nasra | | | | to shift towards the Matric examination board again, |
| School, etc., teachers were planned and knew every | | | | because their wishes to get good marks ended in |
| thing about the curriculum; but what was the fault of | | | | smoke after seeing the results. The new students, |
| the other teachers, who were not given the proper | | | | who set their mind to join AKU-EB, are still thinking |
| guidance by the AKU-EB. | | | | whether to join this board or not. I personally believe |
| The course teaching methodology and the books of all | | | | that the Aga Khan board is one of the best future |
| the schools are different from each other. Although | | | | boards of our country, but it requires proper flow to |
| the curriculum is approved by the Ministry of Education, | | | | move on. The books are not planned. The teachers of |
| but the books, according to the new examination | | | | the AKU-EB are not pre-planned. Students are not well |
| pattern is not yet developed. The Aga Khan Board | | | | informed how to move on for their examination |
| just developed their approved Urdu Book, which is out | | | | practice. The course book has not yet developed by |
| of the minds of students due to irrelevant selected | | | | the AKU-EB for the students. The course is |
| chapters. Even the methodology of learning and its | | | | unexpected in the examination. The workbooks are |
| objectives and evaluating exercises at the end of the | | | | not being implemented properly and even teachers |
| chapter are not given at all. Due to inappropriate | | | | feels burden to make students fill that. The mock |
| knowledge about the subject books, students worries | | | | papers 2007 leaked out, is also an issue of concern. |
| what to learn and from where. | | | | The board is charging the highest re-checking fees |
| In the year, 2006, the first Mock Practice examination | | | | from the Pakistani students, although claiming that this |
| took place, in which around all the Aga Khan Board | | | | board is for every class of students in Pakistan. The |
| approved schools participated. This examination was | | | | marking system in examination is not customary in the |
| held to prepare the students for the future burdened | | | | conceptual questions. Student's opinions are not given |
| composite examination. The results were announced | | | | priority at all. |
| and seeing the worst ever results never expected, | | | | Few of the school students decided to leave the Aga |
| students got shock. One of the brilliant students of | | | | Khan Board and joined the Sindh Board, despite of |
| Hampton School answered the question that despite | | | | knowing the fact that the Sindh Board has the lack of |
| of maintaining the highest score in his school | | | | transparent system of examination. But they are |
| examinations, he got the least percentage in the mock | | | | assured that at least they can get their expected |
| examination. Another student of the Progressive Public | | | | marks in that board. |
| School answered that he failed in all the subjects, | | | | At present the Secondary School Certificates of the |
| although he was pre- planned and mentally prepared | | | | public sector examination boards is not accepted |
| to give the mock papers. It is truly said that whenever | | | | overseas, but at least, their mark schemes are not |
| a professional work is to be done, it is to be done with | | | | very embarrassed. |
| the pre-planning. But The Aga Khan Board lacks the | | | | Most of the private colleges are not accepting |
| professional curriculum development. AKU-EB does | | | | AKU-EB students due to their low scores, but the |
| not understand the requirement of the students and | | | | Sindh board students got approval in most of the |
| teachers yet. | | | | private colleges due to their good grades. One of the |
| The new evaluation system was although encouraged | | | | brilliant students XYZ got 90% in her Sindh Board |
| in Pakistan, but the miserable course outline is | | | | Examination this year. She told me that if she would |
| burdening the students and teachers. Although the | | | | have appeared in the AKU-EB paper, she might have |
| curriculum is approved, but The Aga Khan Board failed | | | | failed to get such good percentage. This expression of |
| to developed teacher resource books. AKU-EB is just | | | | one of the students shows that the AKU-EB needs to |
| giving the names of the topics, knowing the facts, that | | | | re-evaluate their policies according to the expectations |
| the teachers in Pakistan require vigorous trainings in | | | | of the future leaders of our country. The AKU-EB is |
| education before teaching. Most of the schools are | | | | the only hope in the eyes of the future students. They |
| hiring the teachers to teach the Aga Khan Board | | | | want this board to function properly so that they could |
| curriculum, who are just a Graduate. Moreover, the | | | | also enter this board. Although this board has brought |
| workbooks developed by the Aga Khan Board are | | | | many changes in our examination system and has |
| not very interesting due to which, the schools such as | | | | developed a challenging task for other boards to |
| The Aga Khan school teachers gave the workbooks | | | | compete, but if they amend certain policies, then, |
| to the students to fill it from home in just a one day, | | | | doubtless, this board would be the best board of |
| despite of knowing the fact, that this work book needs | | | | Pakistan in the future ahead. |