In the aftermath of widespread student protests against perceived “unfair” AS and A-Levels grading, Cambridge International (CIE) has resolved to reconduct the cancelled exams from May this year.
The cancellation was originally due to protests spearheaded by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This development was formally declared in a statement released by CIE on Friday.
Details of the High-Level Meeting
Federal Secretary for Education, Waseem Ajmal, chaired a crucial meeting in Islamabad triggered by the widespread outcry from students post the A-Level result declaration on August 10. The gathering was notable, with Uzma Yousuf, the Country Director of Cambridge International, Pakistan, Maarya Rehman, the Acting Country Director for the British Council, and several leaders from prestigious private schools in attendance.
During the meeting, concerns expressed by the academic community, especially students, took centre stage. The attendees solicited Cambridge International for suggestions to support the affected students better. The educational body elaborated on its assessment processes, emphasizing the necessity to revert to pre-pandemic evaluation standards.
After this briefing, the education ministry officially recognized the June 2023 exam results as accurate and reliable, despite disruptions caused by exam cancellations on May 10, 11, and 12.
Resolution and Future Actions
Cambridge International laid out a remedial path. Students adversely affected by the exam cancellations on the aforementioned May dates would be allowed to reappear for the November 2023 exam series for the missed subjects, and they’d be exempted from the usual Cambridge exam fee. Notably, students opting for the resit must take all qualification components in November, including the ones already attempted in June.
Furthermore, the education ministry committed to discussions with the heads of leading Pakistani universities, urging them to accommodate flexibility in their respective admission criteria for affected students. Cambridge International has pledged its support in this regard, also planning to approach universities in Pakistan with similar requests.
Consequently, the ministry intended to liaise with provincial governments, promoting the implementation of analogous measures on a regional scale.
These collective resolutions arise from widespread dissatisfaction with the grading system. Many students felt shortchanged by the average points system employed during the pandemic, leading to them receiving grades below their expectations. Responding to the swelling criticism, Cambridge International underscored that they’re gradually transitioning back to the 2019 pre-pandemic standard. They clarified that a student poised to secure an ‘A’ grade in 2019 would have similar prospects in 2023, reflecting a global trend.
