A-level students in Pakistan to take cancelled exams for free
In response to student outcry, Cambridge
Assessment International Education (CAIE) has extended an opportunity for
A-level students to retake exams that were cancelled due to Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protests in May.
This decision comes after students in the
Cambridge program took to the streets to voice their dissatisfaction with
unexpected grade reductions in the AS and A-level results earlier this week.
Concerns about their academic futures were
raised as students gathered outside the Karachi Press Club, expressing worries
about the grading process and pointing to the cancellation of A-level papers on
May 9 and 12 due to political unrest in the city.
Instead of rescheduling the exams, average
marking was applied, leading to unfavorable outcomes for the students, they
explained. A mere handful of students received A and B grades, while the
majority, including us, were left with C and D grades.
"Cambridge International’s June 2023 exam
series in Pakistan was marked with uncertainty when papers were canceled on 10,
11, and 12 May 2023 due to political unrest in the country. Due to this,
students whose exams were canceled were assessed based on the components they
sat in the exam during the series," read a statement issued by CAIE.
The statement clarified that Cambridge had
previously communicated that grading standards for 2023 would gradually return
to pre-Covid standards of 2019 in phases in 2022 and 2023, indicating a shift
in grading thresholds.
However, following the results, students
expressed concerns about their grades and demanded remedial action from
Cambridge.
"To address such concerns, Mr. Waseem
Ajmal, Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training,
presided over a meeting to discuss the concerns of students who received their
Cambridge International AS & A Level grades on 10 August. Present in the
meeting were Uzma Yousuf, Country Director, Cambridge International, Pakistan
Maarya Rehman, Acting Country Director, British Council, and leaders from
various private schools."
The meeting delved into schools' and students'
concerns and called for suggestions from Cambridge to support the students.
Cambridge International explained to the
ministry its process for calculating assessed marks and why returning to
pre-pandemic standards was necessary.
Following the discussion, the ministry
recognized that June 2023 exam results were "fair, valid, and reliable
even where students missed some components due to the disruption to exams on
10, 11, and 12 May."
Both Cambridge International and the government
acknowledged that many students were disappointed by the inability to complete
every component and may want another opportunity to demonstrate their
capabilities.
In light of this, the government, in collaboration
with Cambridge International, made the following decision:
"Any student who missed a component for
Cambridge International AS & A Level on 10, 11, and 12 May because exams
were canceled can re-sit exams for that subject without paying the Cambridge
part of the exam fee in the November 2023 exam series. Students who want to
re-sit A Level take all components, both AS and 'A2'."
The ministry also plans to engage with renowned
university vice chancellors in Pakistan to request flexibility in their admission
processes for students. Cambridge International will similarly approach
universities in Pakistan.
Source: Pakistan Today
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