Intermediate exams across Pakistan would take place after June 15, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood announced on Tuesday. The coronavirus situation in the country is improving due to vaccinations and other government measures, the minister said while speaking on the Geo News program “Capital Talk“.
“I am very hopeful,” he said of successfully running exams.
The minister said that only A2 (A-level second year) exams are currently being held nationwide, but several people are calling for a school grade.
“If there are no exams, nobody will study – and that’s why the postponed exams (O / A levels) will be held in October and November,” he said.
Last month, when Pakistan saw a surge in COVID-19 cases, Mehmood and the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health, Dr. Faisal Sultan, announced that all board exams have been postponed to June fifteen at the suggestion of the National Command and Operations Center.
“Exams 9, 10, 11 and 12, which should start at the end of May, have been further delayed,” said the minister at the time. “There will be no board exams until mid-June (June 15th).”
Mehmood added that another meeting of the NCOC in the third week of May will decide whether or not these exams will be postponed any further.
“So if the exams take place after June 15, they can continue in July and even August,” said the minister.
Regarding Cambridge exams, Mehmood said that the O-Level exams will now take place in the October and November cycle, and the same goes for A- and AS-Level exams.
“Those students who want to apply for admission to Pakistani universities can do so by January as the government will take the universities on board in this regard,” the minister said.
However, he said A2 students must appear on the exam now as postponement would result in a wasted year.