The Examination System In Pakistan

The examination system in Pakistan By Allah Nawaz Nazir Haidar Shah Abdul Ghaffar Tahir Muhammad Masaud Asdaque [email protected]

Introduction, an over view integral part of teaching learning process purpose of examination system accountability for institution and their standing for the achievement of objectives assess the competence for admission and employment

Historical back ground Inherited from the British system, the model of the university of London Establishment of madras and Calcutta universities in 1857 Matriculation became a gateway to govt. service Hartog committee 1929 Matriculation sets a standard of achievement and as a gate to higher edu. After that a degree was a key to a job

Post-independence scenario Function of external system did not change with independence Only the Punjab university had the experience of examination In 1961 – 62 there were ten universities which were conducting their examination Establishments of educational boards Karachi board 1950 Lahore board 1954 In late sixties ten boards were established External system of examination

Internal system of examination In mid seventies internal system was adopted; Agriculture university, Faisalabad Institute of business Management (IBA) Karachi university and Quaid-e-Azam university at graduate level know it is established in almost all universities

Some draw back of annual system of examination Leakage Impersonation External assistance Smuggling of unauthorized material Copying from a nearby candidate Intimidation Collusion Ghost centers Substitution of scripts and Irregularities of supervisory staff by allocating more time to some students

The main recommendations of the various education policies and reports Commission on national education 1959 Suggested that 75% for external evaluation and 25% for internal evaluation Except in case of technical and practical subjects

The commission on student problems and welfare 1966 Major suggestions were; Supplementary examination should be available to such students who fail in only one subject Recommendation of national tests These are voluntary and assess the overall attainments of students

The seminar on examination 1969 Made a critical appraisal of the system of education Identified the defects in examination system Same examination for both private and regular candidates was criticized Improve the facilities to conduct examination Training of teacher in educational measurement Strict action against persons involved in unfair means

The national committee on examination 1970 Major recommendations were; Shift to more weightage to class room testing and training of examination Commitment by the local community for the fair conduct of examination Improving the supervision of centers

The education policy 1972-80 Suggested some radical changes in the system of examination; Abolition of annual system of examination Introduction of cumulative records Passing a law to take action against indiscipline in examination centers

National education policy 1978 Consider the present system of education as one of the major reasons in the declining of education standard The policy suggest the gradual shift for adoption of periodic examination system Course wise in the certificates to be issued

Examination reforms in technical education 1977 The report presented in the national conference on examination suggested that; An action plan form refer to a gradual shift to internal assessment, improvement of class room testing, establishing relevance between test content and curriculum objectives

A task group on examination 1985 It was set up by the ministry of education it is about the relevance of objectives and the teaching learning process. Treatment on assessment of practical subjects

Educational policy 1992 Major recommendations were; A national testing service will be set up Both the external and internal system will continue to co-exist Steps will be taken to improve the quality of managerial skills on their personnel through Training, rationalizing staff, space and equipment allocation Postponement of examination will be avoided Rapid squads will be deployed to inspect the centers

The preparation and declaration of results shall be fully mechanized All examination papers will be so organized as to include objective type questions, short answers and essay type All universities following the semester system will adopt a uniform grading scale as approved by the university grants commission Internal evaluation will be introduced as a performance indicator along with the result of annual examination

Educational policy 1998 the system of examination should discourage rotelearning and emphasis be laid on the acquisition of real knowledge The examination department of the university shall be reorganized Department shall be fully computerized The present examination system shall be further improved The national testing service shall be expanded GRE TOEFL GAT

Educational policy 2009 Education system needs to be internationally competitive and Pakistan shall make efforts to offer itself for international level academic assessments by 2012 Student performance shall be based on assessing competence and reviews of the assessment system. Multiple assessment tools in addition to traditional examinations shall be explored

National standards shall be developed to reduce the differences in quality across regions The Education Boards shall be responsible for capacity building of paper setters and examiners A comprehensive plan shall be prepared to eliminate cheating from examinations A quality cycle management shall link the various systems of assessment and institutions involved in assessment to provide feedback to curriculum development, textbooks development and teacher education and professional development

Curriculum development Integral part of T.L process Determine the standard and quality of an educational system It should be modern and relevant to what is needed for our national development Selection of material should be controlled by purpose

Efforts to curriculum development Constitution of 1973 under the concurrent legislate list Curriculum syllabus, planning, centre of excellence and standards of education textbooks Islamic education Legal, medical and other profession Education include for social cohesion and national integration

University Grants Commission Act of1974 Federal supervision of curricula, textbooks, maintenance of standards of education act of 1976 Higher Education Commission 2002