In a significant move, the Sindh High Court (SHC) Sukkur bench, comprising Justice Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Arbab Ali, has provided substantial relief to students in the province by halting the collection of examination and certificate fees at both the matriculation and intermediate levels. The decision comes as a dismissal of a review petition submitted by educational boards, with the SHC upholding its initial ruling and exempting students from these fees.
The review petition, which sought to challenge the ban on fee collection, was rejected despite efforts by the legal counsel representing the educational boards. The court’s decision is rooted in the understanding that the Sindh government has been providing free education up to the intermediate level since 2017. The report submitted to the court emphasized that the provincial government funds the educational boards for conducting examinations and issuing certificates to students.
The Assistant Advocate General assured the court of the provincial government’s commitment to providing the necessary funding to the educational boards, ensuring that the financial burden does not fall on the students.
However, in Karachi, a different educational issue is brewing as intermediate students actively protest what they perceive as unfair grading practices. Many dissatisfied students are submitting scrutiny forms at the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) to contest their exam results.
Parents are also expressing their discontent with the examination outcomes, underscoring the financial strains associated with their children’s education. One particular point of contention is the BIEK’s fee of Rs 400 for scrutinizing each subject.
Responding to these concerns, the education department has taken a proactive step by establishing a committee to investigate the grievances raised by students and parents alike. The deadline for submitting scrutiny forms has been set for February 12, creating a window for students to address their concerns regarding the grading process.
As the situation unfolds, the education landscape in Sindh remains dynamic, with both the relief provided by the SHC and the ongoing protests in Karachi shaping the discourse on education policies and practices in the province.
Related: SHC approved IBA Karachi’s dispute resolution forum
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