LAHORE – Punjab has announced the schedule for holding the annual 8th-grade board exams after the system remained suspended for four years.
Reports said the Punjab Examination Commission (PECA) has finalized the schedule with Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat confirming that preparations are underway to conduct the exams across the province according to a unified pattern.
PECA has also started coordinating with district education authorities to ensure smooth conduct of the exams.
Class 8 Board Exams 2026 Final Schedule
Reports said the board exams for class 8 will start from March 5, 2026. The board exams are being held for the first time after four years.
In July this year, the Punjab government decided to reinstate board examinations for Grade 8 students across the province.
The announcement had come during a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Punjab Examination Commission for Testing and Assessment (PECTA), chaired by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.
The minister said PECTA will be responsible for conducting the Grade 8 exams. During the meeting, several key educational reforms were discussed.
Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat instructed education authorities to establish an effective internal examination system for Grades 5 to 7. These classes will now undergo internal assessment tests instead of traditional exams, and a comprehensive method for these assessments will be developed within a month.
“The assessment tests will help evaluate both teacher and student performance,” said the minister. He stressed the importance of a transparent and credible system for conducting internal assessments in lower grades.
