A meeting of paper setters for English, physics, chemistry and mathematics was held on Saturday to discuss measures to improve the quality of examination papers and align them with modern educational requirements.
During the meeting, chaired by Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) Chairman Ghulam Hussain Soho, it was emphasised that future exam papers not be based solely on rote information but be designed to assess students’ knowledge, understanding, application and higher-order thinking skills.
For this purpose, the meeting agreed on ensuring appropriate weightage of questions, developing clear rubrics and preparing a comprehensive bank of concept-based questions.
Soho directed the teachers to prepare exam papers on a conceptual basis, enabling students to understand fundamental concepts rather than relying on rote memorisation. He said that when the exam system is shaped on conceptual lines, it would help enhance students’ intellectual abilities and significantly reduce the tendency of cheating in exams, ultimately helping to control the issue.
The meeting also decided that future paper setting process would be completed under the supervision of the BSEK chairman and the exam controller in order to further improve the quality and transparency of exam papers. Teachers involved in this process will also be provided travel allowance.
Soho said that from next year the BSEK would maintain regular communication and consultation with paper setters so that reforms in the exam system can continue and the preparation of questions remains in line with modern educational principles.
A special workshop will be held on Monday (tomorrow), in which the relevant teachers and education experts will participate. The workshop will include detailed discussions on the exam system, the preparation of questions, the development of rubrics and other important matters, so future exam papers can be designed according to high academic standards.
According to education experts, these reforms would help make the exam system more effective, transparent and better aligned with students’ actual abilities.
