Students denied calculator use in physics paper

PESHAWAR: In a display of unnecessary efficiency, certain women officials inspecting examination halls disallowed students appearing in the Physics paper of the ongoing matriculation exams from using calculators.

This decision forced many bright students to leave important questions unanswered.Students at the Frontier Science Academy in Hayatabad complained that both the inspector and later the superintendent barred them from using calculators for scientific calculations.

“How can one perform scientific calculations without a calculator? Why have the inspectors and invigilators not been given even basic training?” asked one student. The candidate added that she missed two MCQs and one short question due to the unnecessary and illegal restriction.

“We’re not students of Class III or IV solving basic addition and subtraction problems where calculators are not needed. In subjects like Physics, numerical questions require scientific calculators,” explained another candidate.

Students expressed concern about facing a similar issue in the upcoming Mathematics paper, which includes complex formulas involving alpha, beta and other variables that also necessitate the use of scientific calculators.They urged the authorities concerned to take notice of such practices and instruct inspection and invigilation staff to refrain from imposing unnecessary restrictions.