The Punjab government has decided to reinstate board examinations for eighth-grade students across the province, aiming to improve the quality of education and standardise student evaluation.
The announcement was made on Saturday following a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Punjab Assessment and Examination Commission (PACTA), chaired by Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.
The meeting reviewed the assessment structure for classes five to eight and discussed key reforms to improve testing and monitoring systems in schools.
Addressing the media after the session, Minister Hayat confirmed that board exams for grade eight will resume under the direct supervision of PACTA.
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He stated that the move is intended to ensure consistent academic standards and to better assess learning outcomes at the provincial level.
He also instructed education officials to enhance internal assessments for students in grades five to seven. These tests will follow a structured format, replacing traditional exams, and will be used to measure both student learning and teacher effectiveness.
The minister added that a comprehensive internal assessment framework will be developed within a month. This new system, he said, would serve as a diagnostic tool to highlight gaps in both student understanding and teaching practices.