BSEK bars removal of burqa at exam centres

KARACHI: The Chairman of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi, Ghulam Hussain, has issued directives ensuring that female students appearing in ongoing matriculation examinations will not be required to remove their burqa or abayas at any examination centre.

According to the instructions, no centre is allowed to force female candidates to remove their burqa during exams. The chairman said there have been no complaints of cheating involving female students, making such measures unnecessary.

He warned that strict action would be taken against any examination centre found violating the directive. Additionally, it has been ordered that no male invigilators be appointed at centres designated for female candidates.

The annual examinations for classes nine and ten began across Karachi last Friday, with around 385,000 students participating.

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Authorities have implemented strict monitoring measures, including the imposition of Section 144 around examination centres, a complete ban on mobile phones, and the closure of nearby photostat shops to curb cheating.

Despite these steps, the examinations have been marred by controversy, with reports of paper leaks, bribery and administrative shortcomings raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the process.