Cambridge International Examination’s (CIE) decision to cancel the AS Level Mathematics exam came about as a surprise to many, however, the exam will now be offered free of cost for students willing to retake it in November this year.
Earlier in May, reports started doing rounds that AS Level Mathematics 9709 Paper 12 had leaked amidst the CIEs. The paper was scheduled for May 2 but was leaked a day earlier in Karachi. This prompted Cambridge to spring into action, and they launched an investigation into the incident.
Following months of investigation, the decision was recently announced. Cambridge disclosed that they had found convincing evidence to conclude that the paper had indeed been leaked. They said that their decision was meant to ensure fairness of the examination process and to prevent some students from getting undue advantage over others.
Therefore, CIE decided to not only cancel the paper but also announced that students who had taken the AS Level Mathematics exam this year would be assessed based on their second exam on the subject. They also announced that students who wish to retake the exam would be allowed to do so free of charge in November.j
The investigation was held by CIE in collaboration with the British Council, whereby both agencies decided to not only find the source of the leak but also work on preventing similar incidents in the future by safeguarding the examination progress. CIE also informed the schools that it was treating the matter with the utmost seriousness. They also expressed their commitment to take all measures to ensure fairness of the process to maintain its credibility.
On the other hand, students also demanded better security arrangements to prevent leaks in the future. It is worth mentioning here that thousands of students attempt CIE O and A Levels examinations in Pakistan. While some students opt for CIEs due to the rigorous curriculum and training they receive for the exams, others simply choose them for wider acceptability across the world. Many students apply a similar principle as they pursue the external programs offered by the University of London.
Pakistan’s education system:
As Pakistan remains caught up in one crisis after another, education is one key sector that suffers due to a lack of attention. Many schools across different parts of the country are ill-equipped to teach students and those where the bare minimum facilities are available lack professional teaching staff. The problem exists on various levels.
The curriculum is outdated. While attempts were made to ensure a single natural curriculum, the project appears to be ignored due to the change of governments. Moreover, the teachers hired by these schools barely do their jobs with dedication. This results in the students coming out of these schools being ill-prepared for higher education.
On another level, there is the issue of rote learning. Students in the matriculation and intermediate systems are forced to adopt rote learning to complete these programs. Considering that this is the education system available to the masses, it raises concerns about the way creativity and independent thinking are being curtailed in students as they are taught to stick to the textbook. Consequentially, these students fail to think out of the box when they are faced with challenging tasks during higher education.
Furthermore, cheating and paper leaks are common in Pakistan. Students with money to spare are the ones who pay to get papers leaked before the exams. Similarly, those with connections are the ones who are facilitated in terms of teaching by invigilators in the examination hall. Many educationists have spoken about these lingering issues, warning that their persistence would damage the country.