QUITE a few letters were published a couple of months ago in these columns when the annual board examinations, both matriculation and intermediate, were held in May and June. Since the schedule could not be altered at the 11th hour, therefore, the demand of students and their parents had no chance of being accommodated. However, that takes nothing away from the logic of the demand to amend the annual schedule.

With a whole year to go before the next round of examinations are due, it is the right time to address the issue. It was horrible to see the misery of children in Sindh during the board examinations. The students work hard for the whole year to appear in these exams. Therefore, it is sheer injustice to require them to appear in exams under such harsh and rather unconducive weather conditions that characterise life in Sindh during the intense heat of May and June. We all know the weakness of infrastructure that our schools and colleges have. It only makes things worse. I remember the days when all school and intermediate exams used to be held starting late in February and concluding by the end of March. I wonder what happened to such a sensible practice. Why was it changed?

The Sindh chief minister as well as the chairpersons of the relevant boards should revive that practice of holding exams in the month of March every year. May and June are usually the hottest months in Sindh. Hence, the summer vacations may start from the middle of May, and end by the middle of July.

As such, the academic session for the next classes may restart in April, and run until the commencement of summer vacations. In fact, we still have six months or more until March, which the government should use to devise a plan for the boards to implement without wasting any time.

Adnan Rizwi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2024