Twitter uproar: As soon as the decision to go ahead with exams has gone ahead, everyone has shared their two thoughts on how dangerous the decision is. The CIEs commenced yesterday for A levels students amid high tensions. Soon after the morning session papers, social media flooded with images & videos of the violations in and around the examination centers.
Repercussions: Discourse started about how it might be not too late, and the government can still bring into motion a decision to suspend these exams. Plenty of students urged government officials to look at the current situation at these exam centers and encouraged them to take action before it is too late. Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood visited an examination center and said the SOP arrangements were up to mark, however mentioned that the number of people in one hall was too much and he has asked the respective organizations to ‘drastically’ reduce this.
Visited an exam centre today with Head of British Council and Cambridge Pakistan. SOPs were being strictly observed including social distancing etc. But, the number of people in one room was large. Have asked them to drastically reduce it pic.twitter.com/fP8mwyBirt
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 26, 2021
Calls to sack Education Minister: It was discussed in detail how students will waste a year if they choose the alternative Oct ov option. Furthermore, Arshad Sharif from ARY did an aggressive program calling out Shafqat Mahmood to be held accountable, and how he should be sacked.
Positive Students giving exams: Many tweets poured in from students who are going to centers despite being COVID-19 positive. These students said that they could not skip a year because of financial and other socio-economic factors, hence they are sorry for putting others in danger, but the onus of responsibility is on the government.
#ShafqatMahmood #NCOCsavestudents @Shafqat_Mahmood 2 of my friends are positive and are giving exams. Do you still think the situation is under control? Why do you want us to contract corona? pic.twitter.com/lWIpbeQE35
— sikandar (@sikanda79047260) April 27, 2021
Pressure working: Jibran Nasir encouraged students to not let their outrage dim out, as clear effects were seen of this through the visit of the Education Minister to an exam center, news channel discourse, and even the Chief Minister of Balochistan publicly opposing exams. Furthermore, the NCOC is meeting today again to review the exam situation and Jibran publicly praised students who ‘through persistent and collective efforts have left no stone unturned to make their voices heard and make Govt aware of all issue’. He also tweeted to Shafqat Mahmood on how it is his executive decision that will save the students and this shall be remembered as a victory for him in the future.
Again @OfficialNcoc is meeting today, again it is reviewing the exams situation. I believe the students through persistent and collective efforts have left no stone unturned to make their voices heard and make Govt aware of all issues. #CancelAllExams and switch to #SAGs https://t.co/64jAtyJiCG
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) April 27, 2021