In an interview, educationist Syed Abidi addressed the grievances of over 45,000 Pakistani students dismayed with their CIE AS and A-Level results, announced on August 10. Due to political unrest in the wake of former prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest on 9 May, regular exams were cancelled.
Instead, an average points system was used for grading. Abidi emphasized that the schools, which charge significant fees, should advocate for their students, particularly since they benefit from students’ achievements, like securing a spot at top institutions such as Harvard.
Recommendations and Forward Path
Abidi recommended that schools consider offering preparations for the rescheduled exams in October/November without additional fees. Moreover, he urged Cambridge to collaborate with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to elucidate its grading rationale. He suggested a possible dialogue involving Cambridge officials and Pakistani university vice-chancellors, as these results directly impact university admissions and scholarship opportunities.
However, Abidi also noted that Cambridge hasn’t shut down student queries and encourages them to understand their grading better. On a broader note, Cambridge International will release results for its June 2023 exams to over half a million students globally, including a significant portion from Pakistan.
