The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Lahore has introduced sweeping changes to its examination system in a bid to improve transparency, fairness, and accountability. The reforms come after numerous complaints from students and parents regarding the mismanagement of practical exams.
According to Secretary Rizwan Nazir, the decision was taken after repeated concerns about irregularities in the assessment process. Earlier, examiners had full discretion over the entire 30 marks allocated for practical exams. This, he admitted, resulted in widespread misuse and inconsistencies in grading.
To address these issues, centralised marking has now been introduced for 9th class practical exams. Laboratories will be equipped with CCTV cameras to ensure proper monitoring during practical assessments. Moreover, practical exams will become a mandatory component of student evaluation, ensuring that marks are awarded on merit.
Another key development is the launch of an e marking system for theory papers. Students will now respond to questions using an electronic sheet that will be scanned and digitised. Examiners will receive secure IDs, allowing them to check papers remotely under real time webcam supervision. This digital monitoring aims to prevent bias and maintain consistency.
Instead of assigning one examiner hundreds of full scripts, the new model divides marking into smaller batches of questions. This approach is expected to improve both accuracy and efficiency.
The reforms have been introduced under the direction of Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar, who emphasised restoring credibility to the examination system. The new system will debut with ICS first annual examinations across Punjab this year, with plans to expand e marking to all subjects within the next two to three years.
