"Credibility Crisis": 17,000 out-of-school children, Cambridge paper leak rock Pakistan's education sector

Islamabad [Pakistan], May 8 (ANI): Pakistan's education sector has once again come under intense scrutiny after lawmakers were informed that nearly 17,000 children in Islamabad remain out of school, while the credibility of the Cambridge examination system has also been questioned following the reported leak of a Mathematics paper, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Education, officials disclosed that thousands of children across 30 union councils in the federal capital are still deprived of formal education.

Joint Secretary Education Hameed Niazi told the committee that authorities had completed a survey and set a deadline of May 30 to enrol all out-of-school children.

The session, chaired by Acting Chairperson Syeda Aamna Batool, included briefings from the Ministry of Education, the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), and NAVTTC.

Committee member Shazia Soomro sharply criticised the ministry's leadership, questioning the absence of both the Education Secretary and the Minister from meetings despite the regular attendance of lawmakers.

Director General Education Junaid Akhlaq informed the committee that admissions in federal government schools were being conducted strictly on merit and that institutions currently had room for around 32,000 students.

Former PEIRA chairman Ghulam Ali Mallah revealed that authorities had identified 50 unregistered schools operating in Islamabad, and inspection teams had been formed to take action.

He added that private schools would now be legally bound to reserve 10 per cent of admissions free of charge for deserving students. Out of approximately 1,600 schools, around 500 have already submitted compliance reports, as cited by The Express Tribune.

The committee also expressed alarm over allegations surrounding the Cambridge Mathematics paper leak.

IBCC officials confirmed that Cambridge had acknowledged the leak and had been directed to submit a detailed explanation.

Shazia Soomro stated that while Pakistan's own examination system frequently faces criticism, the controversy has now raised serious doubts about the transparency and reliability of the international Cambridge system as well, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)

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