The Punjab Education Department has announced that board exams will now be held for Grade 5 and Grade 6 students across the province.
According to the notification, the exams will be conducted by the Punjab Education Curriculum and Training Assessment Authority (PECTA). The decision follows the poor performance of students in recent Grade 9 and 10 board exams.
The department stated that the move aims to strengthen studentsβ academic and mental preparedness from an early stage. Officials believe this initiative will improve performance in future board exams for higher grades.
School heads across Punjab have been instructed to start preparations immediately. They are also required to submit a School Academic Improvement Plan to the authorities to ensure smooth implementation.
Despite the official announcement, the Punjab Teachersβ Union has criticized the move. The union highlighted that similar attempts to hold board exams for Grades 5 and 8 in the past had failed twice.
Teachers have urged the government to avoid repeated experimental policies. They recommended developing a comprehensive and long-term educational and assessment strategy instead. Consultation with all stakeholders, including teachers and education experts, is also advised.
Education officials maintain that early exposure to board exams can help students build exam readiness, manage stress, and improve performance in higher grades. They said the initiative will also allow authorities to identify weak areas in studentsβ learning at an earlier stage.
The notification has sparked discussions among parents and educators, with opinions divided on the effectiveness of introducing board exams at such an early stage. However, the government seems committed to piloting this initiative in the upcoming academic session.
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