Finally Action Taken Against Board Employees for Serious Errors in Matric Exams

After looking into possible mistakes in the SSC-II exam results, the Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice Maqbool Baqar, has taken action. He told the Anti-Corruption Establishment to investigate the whole exam team at the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) due to errors found in the results.

Following the investigation into alleged errors in the results of SSC-II examinations, Sindh’s caretaker Chief Minister (retd) Justice Maqbool Baqar has finally taken decisive action. In response to the inquiry committee’s report, which highlighted glaring mistakes in the results, the Chief Minister directed the Anti-Corruption Establishment to launch a thorough investigation into the entire examination team of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK).

A committee, led by Dr. Shereen Mustafa, found that the BSEK examination and IT teams were responsible for the mistakes. They suggested an Anti-Corruption Establishment inquiry and disciplinary action against negligent officers.

The committee criticized the board employees for not being serious, professional, or efficient. They also pointed out the chairman’s failure to make necessary changes and properly train teachers in grading answer sheets.

Appointed by the CM, the inquiry committee, chaired by Secretary School Education Dr. Shereen Mustafa, along with Additional Secretary Universities and Boards Afshan Rubab and Zuzain Katbar Section Officer of U&B department, diligently investigated the allegations of result manipulation in the 2023 SSC Part-II annual examination by the BSEK.

Upon submission of the committee’s findings and recommendations on February 21, the CM wasted no time in approving them for immediate implementation by the board chairman.

Throughout the proceedings, the committee noted a lack of seriousness among the summoned employees and discrepancies in the result announcement and publication processes. Despite requests, the actual result CD/USB for comparison was not provided. The report also highlighted the conflict of interest regarding Khalid Ehsan, deputy controller, who was implicated in the result process and appointed to the internal inquiry committee.

Both the system provider and the board administration were blamed for inadequate training before implementing new systems. Record maintenance for students was lacking, and user-friendly solutions were not provided.

The examination team, including the controller and IT team, were responsible for significant errors. Further investigation by agencies like the Anti-corruption establishment was recommended, along with departmental action against negligent officers. The lack of cooperation from officers hindered the committee’s work.

The committee observed that the IT wing, crucial for all activities, had been neglected by the board administration, leading to manipulation and mismanagement. It noted the introduction of new result software in 2023 by M/s Basecamp IT Solution, which failed to calculate total marks accurately and omitted grade grace due to mismatching software.

The committee pointed out weaknesses in the IT cell, consulting firm, and contract administration. Unprofessional behavior among examination branch staff was noted. The chairman’s failure to introduce reforms worsened the board’s performance issues. The caretaker CM approved the committee’s recommendations based on the factual findings in the report, showing a commitment to fixing the identified problems.