A fact-finding committee formed by the Sindh Assembly has recommended awarding 15% to 20% grace marks to first-year students who failed the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) exams. The committee, led by NED University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sarosh Lodhi, analyzed the low pass rate and found several errors in the evaluation process.

This recommendation could significantly impact students appearing for the annual exams starting April 15 if approved by the relevant assembly committee.

Key Highlights of the Report

Pass Rate Below 30% – A record-low performance triggered the investigation.
Errors in Evaluation – Issues found in totaling, tabulation, and data entry.
Grace Marks Proposal – 15%–20% marks suggested for Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry.
Exclusion of Certain Subjects – No grace marks recommended for Zoology, Botany, Islamic Studies, and Pakistan Studies.
Final Decision Pending – The assembly committee will finalize the approval.

The Need for Grace Marks

Low Pass Rate Analysis

The BIEK first-year exam results showed that less than 30% of students passed. Many students who previously secured top grades in Matriculation failed these exams, raising concerns about the marking process.

Common Errors Found

The committee reviewed answer sheets and discovered:

Spelling mistakes and basic writing errors.
Miscalculations in mark totaling.
Errors in data entry and tabulation.

Subject-Wise Grace Marks Proposal

The table below outlines the subjects for which grace marks have been proposed:

Subject	Grace Marks Proposed
Physics	15% – 20%
Mathematics	15% – 20%
Chemistry	15% – 20%
Zoology	Not Recommended
Botany	Not Recommended
Islamic Studies	Not Recommended
Pakistan Studies	Not Recommended

Recommendations & Next Steps

Committee's Recommendations

The fact-finding committee has suggested:

Reviewing results of all Sindh education boards for potential discrepancies.
Re-evaluating the grading system to ensure fairness.
Providing training for examiners to avoid errors in totaling and tabulation.

Impact on Students

If implemented, the grace marks policy could:

Improve pass percentages, reducing student stress.
Ensure fairness for students who faced marking errors.
Support those struggling with difficult subjects like Physics and Mathematics.

Decision Timeline

The final decision will be made by the relevant assembly committee.
If approved, the grace marks policy will apply to students appearing in exams from April 15.

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