IBCC to Regulate Cambridge, Other Int’l Exams After Paper Leak Scandal!
A parliamentary committee has mandated that all foreign education boards, including Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE), must operate under the regulatory framework of Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Education and the Inter-Board Coordination Commission (IBCC).
The directive came during a meeting of a National Assembly subcommittee, chaired by MNA Sabheen Ghoury, which reviewed the recent O/A Level exam paper leak scandal. The committee expressed serious concerns over the breach, which involved three CIE exam papers.
A CIE representative informed the panel that partial leaks had affected Mathematics Papers 12 and 42, as well as Computer Science Paper 22. Affected students will receive compensatory grades and can retake the exams for free in November 2025.
The committee demanded third-party investigations for any future leaks and discussed tax-related matters, with the British Council clarifying that CIE exams in Pakistan operate under a government-to-government agreement.
IBCC Takes Charge
Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, IBCC Executive Director, announced that a meeting with all foreign boards will soon be convened to finalize a standardized regulatory strategy. Emphasizing IBCC’s role in academic oversight, he confirmed letters had already been dispatched to international boards.
Cambridge University, in a June 30 statement, assured affected students of free resits in November and pledged further guidance via schools and the British Council.
The move signals Pakistan’s push for stricter control over foreign examinations amid growing scrutiny of exam security and fairness.