Govt abandons fascist-era practice of inflating SSC results: Adviser Mahdi

The government has abandoned the practice under the previous fascist government of artificially increasing SSC and equivalent examination pass rates and the number of GPA-5 achievers, Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin said on Monday, stressing that this year’s results reflect students’ actual merit.

Mahdi Amin, also the spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, made the remarks at a press conference at the Ministry of Education at the Secretariat while announcing the SSC and equivalent examination results. 

He said the government had ensured fair and transparent examinations nationwide, with a single question paper used for the examinations that began on April 21.

CCTV cameras and body-worn cameras were used at examination centres, while teachers received subsequent training to ensure impartial and objective assessment of answer scripts, he said.

“Regardless of whether the results are good or bad, we must remember that they reflect the students’ actual merit,” Mahdi Amin said, urging students who did not achieve their desired grades not to be discouraged.

He said transforming a broken state structure could not be achieved overnight, but the government was working to build an education system that would make students self-reliant and create employment opportunities.

He said the education sector had been among the most affected under the previous government.

As part of its reform initiatives, the government has revised, expanded and streamlined the curriculum for the next academic year. Sports, startup competitions and tree-planting programmes have also been introduced in educational institutions, he said.

Teacher training and facilities, the integration of sports and culture, and the use of technology in education are also being prioritised to improve the quality of education, he added.

The Education Adviser thanked teachers, guardians, examinees, education administrators, law enforcement agencies and others involved in ensuring the smooth completion of the examinations.