With a rapid resurgence in COVID-19 infections in the region many Pakistani students were understandably stressed. Unlike every other country in the region, the Government had refused to cancel O/A Level exams, saying that proper SOPs will be followed. However as the first day of the exams started it soon became clear that, as everyone was saying, no SOPs were followed. So in a quick and hasty decision, the Government took yet another u-turn decision.
In a press conference, yesterday, Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood announced that all exams were being postponed till at least June 15, 2021
There have been exceptions made for students who are concerned about missing out on an academic year to continue taking the exams with the caveat that every exam hall will have no more than 50 students.
The exams for matriculation and intermediate students were also postponed.
Addressing health concerns of students and parents All exams cancelled till June 15 and depending on the spread of the disease may even go further. Cambridge exams postponed till Oct/Nov for all grades. Only exception for those in A2 who have a compulsion to take exam now
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 27, 2021
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 27, 2021
The hasty decision has led to a lot of obvious confusion and chaos among students who are enraged enough to demand that Shafqat Mahmood resign from his position for mishandling the situation
The latest announcement regarding the CAIE exams brought with itself massive criticism and the demand for School assessed grades, as was the case last year, instead of having the exams postponed. Many students took to social media to strongly express their concerns on the subject.
https://twitter.com/aleehahussain/status/1387056553111470080
https://twitter.com/Ahmarikram3/status/1387116178343174151
I feel like if I opt for O/N, govt will announce tags. I have an exam tomorrow and EVERYONE is going. So nothing has changed for the batch of 2021. @Shafqat_Mahmood played us big time. Cannot even describe the confusion and stress i feel. #resignshafqatmehmood
— Rahma Tahir (@rahmatahir44) April 27, 2021
Demands for Mr. Shafqat Mahmood to resign grew so intense that they have been a top trending topic on social media ever since the press conference yesterday
Voices like that of lawyer and politician Jibran Nasir also played their part in showing solidarity with the students
Cancelling exams won't be the end all solution. The Govt must ensure that SAGs will be provided by #Cambridge this session. If a decision to cancel is being made it is being made based on data and circumstances which were foreseeable before 17th April as well. @Shafqat_Mahmood
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) April 27, 2021
There are concerns that forcing students to take exams with a delay instead of giving school assessed grades to keep up with the rest of the world in the academic year will cost Pakistani students a whole academic year in comparison to their world counterparts
If #SAGs are not offered to #Pakistani students and @Shafqat_Mahmood makes them miss an entire session and waste 6 months falling behind all international students then @ImranKhanPTI must sack the Federal Education Minister for his monumental blunder to not cancel exams in time.
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) April 27, 2021
For those who don't understand why cancelling exams is not the final solution to the problem being faced by #Cambridge students and why our students must be offered #SAGs here is a writeup. @Shafqat_Mahmood pic.twitter.com/xbeCQzmltH
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) April 27, 2021
With the ridiculously high stress of living through distressing times like these, students in Pakistan are also facing the terrifying pressure and fear of having to take exams while battling severe health crisis and their future. One can only hope that good sense will prevail among those in power and a better decision can be made that would not put the future and time of our students at risk.
What do you think about the demands for Minister Shafqat Mahmood to resign? Let us know about what you think in the comments below.
