ISLAMABAD: The government has allowed the British Council to hold special O Level examinations from July 26 to Aug 6.

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training said in a notification on Thursday that the “British Council is fully authorised to conduct mini exams series from 26 July to 6th August subject to all approved/notified Covid-19- SOPs existing for A Level already in our letter of even number dated 30th April, 2021.

A few hours later, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood tweeted: “We issued an NOC today to British Council allowing it to hold special O Level exams from July 26 to August 6. This will facilitate O Level students to start A Level or FA/Fsc from September. This kind of exam in July is unprecedented and I am happy that Cambridge is arranging it.”

In another tweet, he said: “This pandemic has created immense difficulties in all walks of life but specially in education. We have been taking difficult decisions to ensure that education/ learning continues. Every decision has pros and cons but for us the interest/welfare of students is always paramount.”

These examinations were earlier postponed due to the surge in coronavirus cases in the country.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2021