ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Icesco) on Friday discussed ideas of extending the services of the board to other Islamic countries.

Head of Icesco’s education department Dr Haddy Jatou Sey, who met FBISE Chairman Dr Ikram Ali Malik and Senior Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education Sohail Akhtar during her visit to the FBISE was briefed about the functioning of the examination board.

During the discussion, she appreciated the board for holding the Pakistan Mathematics Olympiad and showed her interest in extending the contest to other Islamic countries.

She said that in the absence of dynamic boards in many Islamic countries, educational institutions face difficulties.

Officials stated that the board could extend its services to such countries.

“These are just ideas and only preliminary discussions were held. Now, we will share the concept paper with Icesco,” said a participant.

FBISE in collaboration with Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) and Icesco held the first-ever Pakistan Mathematics Olympiad (PMO) last month.

More than 7,500 students from across Pakistan and abroad showcased their skills.

The prize distribution ceremony was attended by Dr Haddy Jatou Sey who distributed prizes and certificates among top position-holders.

The first position was clinched by Mustafa Salman with 100pc marks. He was awarded Rs300,000, a gold medal and a certificate.

The second position was shared by Muhammad Saram and Ahmad Hassan, who scored 95 per cent each, receiving Rs200,000 each along with silver medals and certificates.

Meanwhile, the third position was shared by Muhammad Hasnat Farooq, Muhammad Daniyal, Shah Zaib, Syed Ibrahim Hasan and Abdullah Shafique Malik scoring 93 per cent each.

They were awarded Rs100,000 each along with bronze medals and certificates.

Additionally, 24 students scoring between 81 per cent and 91 per cent were awarded Rs15,000 each and 84 students securing 60 per cent to 80 per cent marks were awarded Rs5,000 each.

Earlier, on Thursday Dr Haddy Jatou Sey visited the National Rahmatul lil Aalameen Wa Khatamun Nabiyyin Authority (NRKNA) and Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC).

At NRKNA, it was decided that Icesco would help the authority in critical areas such as teacher training, comparative analysis of curricula in Islamic countries and strategies to address Islamophobia and misconceptions about Islam.

NRKNA Chairman Khurshid Nadeem and Director General Zafar Malik briefed her about the functioning of the authority.

It was decided to co-organise a regional conference in Pakistan in April 2025, focusing on Islamic values of character education.

The conference will bring together representatives from regional Islamic countries, including Tajikistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and other Muslim nations.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2025