CIEs begin : A levels exams commenced today after a week of protests by students and a court plea, which was dismissed on Friday. The Sindh High Court dismissed the case to cancel exams and it was decided that CIEs would go as scheduled with strict imposition of SOPs. A levels exams have started today, while the O levels exams will commence on May 10th.
SOP violations: As soon as the morning exams started today, social media flooded with pictures and videos of how dangerous the situation inside exam halls was and how massive congregations of people waited outside exam halls. Students and others expressed fear and anger at how mismanaged the situation was and pleaded to the government that it is still not too late.
#NCOCcancelexams the same bodies responsible to ensure sops aren’t following social distancing measures ? What do you expect from the candidates then????! pic.twitter.com SvH4OUkYj
— Voice of Youth Pakistan (@voiceofyouth_pk) April 26, 2021
This is outside the centre where I Gave my English General Paper One hour ago. Where are the SOPS? where is the social distancing that was promised to us? Cancel These Exams before its too late!! #NCOCcancelexam @mubasherlucman @MJibranNasir pic.twitter.com/KuJySOdQMb
— Aashir wajahat official (@Aashirwajahat1) April 26, 2021
Strict SOPs. I'm speechless. @arsched @mubasherlucman @MJibranNasir @Cancelciez21#NCOCcancelexams pic.twitter.com/1hJjLzCyJB
— Umair. (@umair_805) April 26, 2021
Reaction: Many politicians criticised the situation including Jibran Nasir who criticised the environment of the exam halls being centrally air conditioned and compared how these halls are the same ones where weddings are banned. He also shed light on how the government failed to think of congregations by people who come to pick students up and how this can lead to further spread of the virus.
Around 400 students in one closed centrally air-conditioned hall & this is considered a #Covid compliant environment? Under the current @OfficialNcoc restrictions one is not allowed to hold a wedding of even 100 people in this wedding hall. Pathetic. @Shafqat_Mahmood & @pkBritish pic.twitter.com/Tvl6vI3alG
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) April 26, 2021
Did the Govt not know that it's common for people to congregate outside examination halls when they come to pick up students. Students come with their parents, drivers, rented or public transport. Are they not carrier & equally at risk. You have a lot to explain @Shafqat_Mahmood
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) April 26, 2021
The education minister, Shafqat Mahmood denied these pictures and videos as ‘fake’ and called the effort of these ‘nobodies’ failed and referred to these posts as ‘publicity stunts’.
Some nobodies who have jumped into this situation for cheap publicity are going so far as to distribute fake pictures of examination halls. Their attempt to spread confusion has failed and will continue to fail because they are not interested in students but self projection
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 26, 2021