By: Salman Yousafzai
PESHAWAR: Serious irregularities have been revealed in the annual examinations of the Peshawar Education Board, where the marks of 926 students were increased after show-off paper applications.
According to official documents, the board had earlier denied any change in the marks of the students despite charging re-totalling fees.
According to the document, Rs 2,100 was collected from each candidate for re-totalling and show-off paper; however, parents say that the board has not yet returned the additional amount in case of an increase in marks despite the announcement.
The students’ parents said that the board had promised the return of the money, but it failed to implement it.
The Peshawar Board Chairman, Khuda Bakhsh, while giving his position, said that re-totalling is a technical process in which the accuracy of the addition and subtraction of the candidate’s marks is checked.
The Board Chairman adds, “Show-off paper is a comprehensive and transparent procedure in which the paper is shown in the presence of the candidate, parents, teacher and an expert in the relevant subject and in case of any error or objection, the matter is sent to the referee.”
According to Khuda Bakhsh, the final decision is made on merit in the show of the paper, while the record of all payments is also completed and anyone can see.
The chairman Board said that the board did not compromise on providing facilities to students.
However, parents and students have demanded of the government and authorities concerned to conduct a transparent investigation into the refunds and irregularities so that no such incidents occurred in the future.
