The Punjab Schools Education Department has announced a major shift in its examination system, replacing the conventional board exams with a new assessment test aimed at improving student performance.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said the new system will focus on enhancing academic results in grades nine and ten, while also strengthening the foundational skills developed in earlier classes.
As part of the overhaul, the Punjab Examination Commission for Testing and Assessment (PECTA) will conduct the eighth-grade assessment. Detailed guidelines for the new process will be issued within the next 20 days.
The new system will be introduced first in government schools. In the case of private institutions, board exams will become optional, with the new assessment schedule expected to take place in February or March of the next academic year.
Officials believe the change will promote better learning outcomes by moving away from rote memorization and toward skills-based evaluation.
