Inquiry committee finds manipulation in Intermediate exam results
The committee has attached a list of 31 students to prove their findings
The inquiry committee formed by Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar to investigate alleged manipulation in the results of the Higher Secondary School Annual Examinations (Intermediate exams) has uncovered several cases of result tampering as well as financial irregularities in the affairs of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK).
The committee has submitted a report to the CM Secretariat, which says that the inquiry body unearthed many cases of tampering in award lists of the results of the Intermediate pre-medical science group annual examinations 2022 showing that the marks of students in various subjects were increased with almost the same number by cutting the marks in the award list. The committee has attached a list of 31 students to prove their findings.
The purpose of the inquiry was to probe the allegations of financial irregularities and manipulation in the results of the annual examinations, fix responsibilities on delinquent officers and propose a way forward to avoid the recurrence of such incidents.
Manipulation in results
To detect tampering in the results of the Intermediate Examinations 2021, 2022 and 2023, the inquiry committee used a random sampling method and examined the pre-engineering and pre-medical group results of the top six colleges.
The BIEK has stated that the scrutiny of around 600 cases, including 191 cases of pre-medical and 165 of pre-engineering groups in the examinations of 2021, and 132 cases of pre-medical and 122 cases of pre-engineering groups of the 2022 examinations, was carried out.
Of the total 601 cases, the inquiry committee used random sampling based on A-1 graders getting a raise of more than 10 marks after scrutiny/ re-totaling. Thus, 23 samples, including nine of pre-medical and four of pre-engineering of the 2021 examinations, were drawn up.
The report reads that the inquiry committee asked the BIEK to provide complete record of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 examinations, but the education board provided incomplete record.
The inquiry committee also recorded the statements of BIEK officials, including then BIEK chairman Dr Saeeduddin.
The committee found various cases of tampering in the award list of the pre-medical group’s results of the 2022 examinations.
The assessment of the scrutiny cases of 2021 and 2022 showed an unusual increase in marks of students in both pre-engineering and pre-medical groups.
Earlier report
After allegations of mismanagement in the 2022 examinations, the Sindh universities and boards secretary had also constituted an inquiry committee that submitted its report in May 2023.
The committee warned then controller of examinations Engr Anwar Aleem Rajput to discharge his duties carefully and keep a vigilant check on relevant junior officials.
Penalties were also recommended by the committee for various officials.
Then BIEK chairman Saeeduddin forwarded the report to the universities and boards minister for his perusal, but he did not issue any directive for implementation of such penalties.
2023 results
During the examination of answer scripts of the 2023 examinations of the pre-medical group, it was found that several answer scripts did not have security features as the signature of the controller of examinations or QR code was missing.
The report reads that it can be assumed that the replacement of
unauthorised answer scripts was done to benefit particular candidates.
It has also been found that the tabulation register, and award list used in the 2023 annual examinations were found unsigned by the relevant officers. In this regard, then controller of examinations Zaheeruddin Bhutto stated that those could be signed later.
The report also reads that some evidence regarding tampering in the results of the 2022 examinations was also destroyed during the tenure of Naseem Memon and Bhutto, and relevant supervisors and section heads.
