CAIE exams as per schedule; classes for grades 9-12 resume from today

The federal government on Sunday announced that physical classes of grades 9-12 that had been suspended due to a rise in coronavirus cases would commence in affected districts in a staggered manner and under strict Covid-19 protocols from Monday (today).

Educational institutions in virus hotspots will take classes on alternate days with 50% attendance. The decision to reopen classes would allow students to prepare for board examinations. However, physical classes for grades 1-8 would remain closed till Eid Al Fitr. Online teaching for such grades would continue.

The decisions were taken at a special meeting of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) in Islamabad which was attended by health and education ministers of all provinces and Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-baltistan.

Sharing details of the meeting, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood in tweet said that exams for grades 9-12 will take place according to new dates announced by educational boards.

“This means the exams will not start before 4th week of May” he clarified. He also said that the admission schedule for universities will be adjusted keeping in view the new exam time table.

It was also decided that A, AS, O level and IGCSE exams will take place as per date sheet announced by the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIES), Shafqat added.

“There will be no delay or cancellation” he confirmed. Those students wishing to take exams in October or November can do so in the same fee already paid, he mentioned.

Meeting was also informed that Cambridge has decided not to give teacher assessed grades this year therefore those not taking exams will take them in the next cycle October/ November. —

It was also decided with complete consensus among ministers that A, AS, O level and IGCSE exams will take place as per date sheet announced by CAIES. There will be no delay or cancellation.

Shafqat Mahmood @Shafqat_mahmood