Sindh’s Minister for Universities and Boards, Muhammad Ismail Rahoo, confirmed that the Matric and Intermediate examinations will proceed as scheduled across the province despite prevailing challenges. This announcement came during a meeting led by the minister to assess the readiness for the upcoming exams.
The discussion focused on critical concerns such as security arrangements at examination centers, availability of furniture, provision of drinking water, anti-cheating measures, and other necessary preparations. the finalized timetable, exams for classes 9 to 12 will commence province-wide starting April 7.
More than 1,353,258 students are expected to participate in these exams, which will be conducted at over 1,600 centers throughout Sindh. Specifically, in Karachi, Matric exams for classes 9 and 10 will begin on April 7, while Intermediate exams for classes 11 and 12 are set to start on April 25. Meanwhile, in Sukkur, Matric exams will start earlier on March 30, followed by Intermediate exams beginning April 15.
In a significant development aimed at curbing paper leaks, the provincial government will introduce a state-of-the-art watermarking system. This technology will enable authorities to track and hold accountable anyone involved in leaking exam papers. Additionally, a provincial-level complaint cell will be established within the Secretary Boards’ office to ensure strict oversight of examination centers and vigilance teams.
The minister instructed officials to deploy all available resources to guarantee the exams are conducted transparently and on time. He also issued a stern warning that board chairpersons will face strict consequences if any paper leak incidents occur.
Examinations in Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions will be fully conducted using an e-marking system. In Larkana, selected papers from classes 9 to 12 will also be assessed electronically, while in Karachi, all class 9 papers and two Matric papers will utilize the e-marking process.
Authorities have been directed to promptly resolve issues related to drinking water, furniture, and other facilities at all exam centers. To avoid disruptions, notifications will be sent to ensure there is no load-shedding during exam hours. Furthermore, Section 144 will be imposed at examination venues, and mobile phones will be strictly banned to prevent cheating.
