Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood Monday said that he has asked Cambridge International to reconsider the 13-month condition for taking remaining papers considering the extraordinary situation pertaining to COVID-19, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The minister said that he is very hopeful that a positive decision will come soon
He also criticised his critics and said: “Some nobodies who have jumped into this situation for cheap publicity are going so far as to distribute fake pictures of examination halls. Their attempt to spread confusion has failed and will continue to fail because they are not interested in students but self-projection.”
The decision to hold Cambridge International examinations for O and A level was taken despite the immense pressure and online campaign from students and activities who demanded the postponing of exams amid the current wave of coronavirus.
The education minister said that Cambridge examinations have started from Monday (today) with strict coronavirus SOPs in place across Pakistan.
The students and activists went to Islamabad High Court (IHC) but the court dismissed the petition and asked the petitioners to seek relevant forums as NCOC decisions cannot be challenged.
Earlier, the British Council in Lahore announced the commencement of the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)’s examinations from April 26 that will conclude on June 13 this year.
More than 5,000 students would take the O and A level examinations in the provincial capital Lahore. Whereas 40 examination centres have been set up across the Punjab province to hold the CAIE’s examinations.
A total of 90,000 students from across the country will take Cambridge exams and Cambridge had taken extensive measures in January this year to ensure that the educational institutes could hold the CAIE’s exams in May/June 2021.