Minister for Education and Mineral Development, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, has urged for a transformation in the education system, emphasizing the importance of shifting students’ focus from the competitive “race for marks” to an emphasis on learning and quality-based assessments. Speaking at an awareness seminar on the “Model Assessment Framework” organized by the Federal Ministry of Education’s Inter-Board Coordination Commission (IBCC), he stressed that the exams conducted by boards this year would be a test of their own systems and may set the stage for potential private sector involvement in future assessments.
The seminar, held at Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, was attended by education experts and officials, including IBCC Executive Director Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah and former Director General Academics Islamabad, Dr. Naeem Khalid. Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah emphasized that technology-driven third-party assessments are essential for creating an objective, fair evaluation system. He explained that currently, the same teacher who instructs students is also responsible for grading their work, which can lead to biased results. Introducing third-party assessments would bring impartiality and accuracy to the evaluation process. In his address, the minister proposed removing the requirement of board percentage for university admissions, which currently pressures students to focus on rote learning.
By eliminating this condition, he believes students would be able to prioritize understanding and learning rather than merely memorizing content for exams. Shah highlighted that this academic year’s assessments would test whether the existing examination boards’ systems are adequate or if private sector assistance is needed in the future.
He further discussed the sensitivity of third-party assessments, referencing the success of IBA Sukkur in maintaining credibility in medical college admission tests despite initial hesitation from institutions.
In addition, the minister called for more collaboration between federal and provincial governments to strengthen the education sector and stressed the importance of increasing grants for universities in Sindh, which are currently facing financial challenges. During the seminar, Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, Executive Director of IBCC, explained the commission’s role in improving the examination system and enhancing the capacity of teachers and examination staff.
The IBCC has developed the Model Assessment Framework in collaboration with both federal and provincial authorities to improve assessment techniques and align them with global standards.
