NA panel forms subcommittee to look into Cambridge exam paper leaks

The issue of Cambridge exam papers being leaked has been taken up by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Education and a sub-committee has been formed on the matter.

In a meeting chaired by Standing Committee Chairman Dr Azimuddin Zahid on Friday, Faisalabad Member of National Assembly Muhammad Ali Sarfraz presented evidence of four recently leaked Cambridge papers to the participants and also showed a video.

He said some students took advantage of the paper leaks and the majority were left out. Cambridge averages such papers or gives marks based on school results. The meeting suggested that the leaked paper exams be re-conducted in July or the threshold be reduced so that all students could benefit.

In the meeting of the Standing Committee, Zeb Jaffer, Dr Haleem and other members criticised Cambridge’s performance and several critical questions were asked of Cambridge’s Country Director Uzma Yousaf.

Uzma Yousaf said the information about Cambridge paper leaks is not true; it is just rumors. We conduct examinations in 160 countries, but we will complete the investigation into the paper leaks by June 16.

On this occasion, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Education Nadeem Mehboob said Cambridge and other foreign boards deal with the IBCC and Cambridge is accountable to them.

IBCC Executive Director Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah said Cambridge does not take us into confidence in most matters. He said that as long as the British Council used to take examination papers, the papers did not leak, but when schools were allowed to conduct independent and direct examinations, the process of paper leaks started.

He said that during the tenure of former secretary Mohiuddin Wani, Beacon House was allowed to conduct independent examinations in its schools, while in the case of independent examinations, Cambridge was supposed to reduce the fees, but the fees were not reduced. On this occasion, the participants of the meeting criticized Cambridge and said Cambridge earns billions of rupees from Pakistan in the form of examinations.

Cambridge Pakistani Director Uzma Yousaf criticized the performance of government education boards and said that students turn to Cambridge due to the poor performance of government boards, to which Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr Mukhtar said that this is wrong. The Federal Education Board and a few other boards are good and their performance is exemplary.

On this occasion, a subcommittee was formed under the chairmanship of Member of Assembly Sabin to review the performance of Cambridge and the issues of paper leakage. The subcommittee will include Zeb Jaffer, Muhammad Ali Sarfraz, Dr Aleem, Executive Director IBCC and other members. This committee will also call Cambridge Pakistani Director Uzma Yousaf in the meeting, which will be held after June 16.