The recently announced Grade 9 board exam results in Punjab have raised serious concerns. Out of nearly 380,000 candidates, only 45 percent passed, while 55 percent failed to secure a passing grade.
The results were particularly alarming in Gulzar Jageer, the hometown of Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, where only one student out of eighteen passed. This has sparked debates over the state of public schools and the impact of ongoing education reforms.
A notable gender gap was observed in the results. Girls outperformed boys with a 58 percent pass rate compared to only 35 percent for male students. Board-wise data revealed similar trends, with the Lahore Board recording a 45.08 percent pass rate and Faisalabad 51.55 percent.
In Lahore, students in the arts group struggled the most, with 63 percent failing overall. Among them, 79 percent of boys failed compared to 53 percent of girls. In the science group, 53 percent of students failed, including 62 percent of boys and 44 percent of girls.
Private schools reported better results, with 67 percent of students passing. In contrast, 60 percent of government school students failed, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the public sector.
Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, currently in the United States, addressed the issue on social media. He stated that the results reflect students’ actual performance following a crackdown on cheating networks.
He warned that schools with poor results would face strict accountability, including possible dismissal of teachers and removal of underperforming institutions.
The Education Minister also promised recognition and rewards for schools and teachers achieving strong results. Accountability will begin in his own tehsil, Pattoki, where lists of poorly performing schools have already been requested. He emphasized that billions of rupees are spent on education but with “almost zero output,” and negligence cannot continue.
Public reaction on social media has been mixed. Some users supported the government’s stance on accountability, while others criticized the reforms and timing. Many highlighted broader social issues affecting education, such as parental support and infrastructure challenges.
With Punjab’s education system under scrutiny, the Education Minister’s steps toward reform and accountability are expected to trigger further debate among educators, parents, and policymakers.
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