Let's get a proper education system!

Getting education is every man and woman’s right. Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. It is the sole basis on which the world is progressing.

Secondary education in Pakistan begins from grade 9 and lasts for four years. After end of each of the four school years, students are required to pass a national examination administered by a regional Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (or BISE). The first two year course is locally termed as 'matriculation certificate' or 'matric' for short. Students then enter an intermediate college and complete grades 11 and 12. Upon successful completion of these examinations, students are awarded the Higher Secondary (School) Certificate (or HSC). This level of education is also called the FSc/FA or 'intermediate'. An alternative qualification in Pakistan is also available but is maintained by a foreign examination board instead of BISE. This alternative qualifications is known as the General Certificate of Education (or GCE), where SSC and HSC are replaced by Ordinary Level (or O Level) and Advanced Level (or A Level) respectively. These examinations are conducted under the pretext of Cambridge Board which has its main headquarters in Britain.

 The syllabus used in BISE is very old and no significant changes have been made to it whatsoever. Students who want to pursue degrees in medical and engineering can go along with this old syllabus but students who want to go for business, law or media have to study an updated course. CIE is an internationally recognized board with updated courses and thus is helpful for students. Students who pursue O/A’ Levels find it difficult to score good marks in medical and engineering entry tests. This is because the entry tests for engineering and medical universities are made entirely from the syllabus of Fsc. A’ Level students have a maximum of two months to prepare for it. Furthermore, O/A’ level grades are converted into FSc/FA equivalence marks which lowers the marks of O/A’ Level students and also reduces their chances of getting into a good university.

Hence it can be concluded that CIE is a better board and far superior in quality when compared to BISE. But students who wish to pursue a degree in medical or engineering in Pakistan should most definitely opt for BISE. This is because it will help them in the university entry tests. Other than that, students who can afford it or are willing to pursue any other degree or wish to go abroad should most defiantly opt for CIE.

The difference in these boards is creating differences among students. Discrimination is taking place and dividing our youth. Thus the government should take steps to improve the working of BISE to root out this discrimination problem. They should bring their books up to date with the present. More subjects should be introduced to enhance the creativity skills of students. Examination system should be improved upon i.e. exams should be taken in better examination halls and steps should be taken to avoid cheating. In this bring way BISE can be on the same level as CIE and our youth can be on the same wavelength to bring about a change in the country.