The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) has come under intense criticism after its controversial handling of the Class IX results for the Science and General groups left more than 175,000 students uncertain about their academic performance. The board announced the results last week but failed to provide subject-wise mark sheets, releasing only the pass or fail status for each subject. Students were not informed of their total marks or overall percentages, leaving them unable to evaluate their performance or plan ahead academically.
According to BSEK officials, detailed mark sheets will be released in the next two weeks. However, the delay has sparked outrage among students, parents, and educators, who argue that the board’s lack of transparency is unacceptable. Many have pointed out that other examination systems, such as Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and Punjab’s boards, provide provisional mark sheets with complete subject details immediately after result announcements.
The timing of the issue has further fueled frustration, as it coincides with ongoing discussions about digitization within Karachi’s education system. Ironically, BSEK Chairman Ghulam Hussain Saho had recently attended a meeting focused on implementing e-marking and digital reforms. Yet, the board’s failure to issue even basic digital mark sheets has raised doubts about its technological readiness and administrative efficiency.
Sources within BSEK revealed that IT Manager Muhammad Irfan traveled to Islamabad with the chairman shortly after the results were declared, leaving newly appointed IT analyst Sain Dad without the authority or technical resources to handle the ensuing problems. Controller of Examinations Hamza Tagar, who assumed office just three months ago, acknowledged the delays and confirmed that efforts were underway to resolve the issue. He assured students that the board is working to make detailed marks accessible within a week.
Education experts say this episode highlights deeper issues of mismanagement and inefficiency within BSEK. Haider Ali, Chairman of the All Private Schools and Colleges Association, strongly criticized the board’s performance, noting that “in Punjab, students receive detailed provisional mark sheets immediately, while in Karachi, even the total score is withheld.”
Further investigation revealed that the Class IX mathematics papers for the Science Group, which were supposed to be assessed through e-marking, were instead checked manually. Despite spending millions on e-marking-compatible answer sheets, BSEK failed to arrange the logistics or hire the necessary evaluators, exposing gaps in planning and execution.
The ongoing controversy has intensified calls for reforms in Karachi’s education boards, with stakeholders urging greater accountability, digital transparency, and improved management to prevent such incidents in the future.
