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Rage and disbelief on Twitter as Pakistani students learn they will have to sit for O, A Level exams

Rage and disbelief on Twitter as Pakistani students learn they will have to sit for O, A Level exams

Students from across the country voiced their anger and dismay at the courts' decision to go ahead with physical exams.
24 Apr, 2021

On Friday, four different high courts in the country turned down students' petitions to cancel physical examinations for Cambridge O and A Levels and switching to the tried and tested method of awarding school assessed grades. Students had run a comprehensive social media campaign for their cause, and gained support across the board, from politicians, celebrities and other influential groups.

When the courts decided to reject the students' case and gave not deterring from the NCOC's decision as a reason — which we agree, is a dangerously scary precedent, especially in the middle of a crisis — the students went back to social media to voice their anger and dismay.

Cancelation of exams is a step that should be taken, but perhaps not by a court, and instead by the NCOC or Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, who upon making his decision to deny students their request brought himself under Waqar Zaka's radar.

Here's the Sindh High Court's decision, which is in line with the other courts.

And its explanation.

We've gathered some of the best reactions from the internet for now but are sure this is not the last we are hearing of this.

In short, this is how the students feel.

Activist, politician and quickly emerging youth icon Jibran Nasir, who had been fighting the students' case for them, said a few words of confidence upon the courts' decision.

Zaka made a demand to PM Imran Khan for help, rationalising it for the PM, as he would for himself.

This journalist called out the NCOC, noting the ridiculousness in their decision and reminding them of what could be.

He wasn't the only one having a tough time with the NCOC decision.

Students now have put their hopes in PM Imran Khan, but are disheartened and nervous because of their lack of faith in him.

With support from most quarters, the students are still waiting for the one vote of support that matters.

Some were straight up threats.

Here's a tweet from an Indian student that reads and sounds too familiar...

Even PM Imran's ministers are hearing it.

We aren't convinced that the matter is settled, though sadly, it might be. The threat of the virus is real, and it's getting scarier with every passing second. Less than an hour east of Lahore, we see neighbouring India plunged into turmoil. Oxygen shortages, mass cremations, patients being treated on streets — dystopian nightmares are becoming a reality at such pace that the realisation is tagging behind. We are nervous about Pakistan's situation, knowing full well how fragile our healthcare and other infrastructures are, and are convinced physical exams cannot be the way to go.

Good luck, students. Can't say we've been there, but we feel your pain.

Comments

Hasaan Apr 24, 2021 12:23pm
Same students can be seen in restaurant and shadi halls dancing to the tune. Motive is something else and reason claimed is something else
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Apr 24, 2021 02:34pm
When the going gets tough and the environment are rough, only the roughest and toughest get going.
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Abrar Apr 24, 2021 02:58pm
With all due apology to all concerned citizens and parents my only question is are you or your kids following any SOP'S, banks are open mosques are open markets are open why cancelling exams only??
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Shahroz Apr 24, 2021 03:15pm
Please don't play with my future and cancel 9 10 11 12 class board exam because we have no prepared mentally for exam please cancel the exam i hope you will be better choice on exam cancellation
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Aziz USA Apr 24, 2021 03:40pm
The Hon.Court had made the right decision. Taking exam under the watch of invigilators will (hopefully) ensure integrity and creditability of the the students. Getting upset and offering lame excuses does not help the academic track of students. Therefore, it would be better that they focus on studies and prepare to undertake the examinations.
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Huma Apr 24, 2021 03:43pm
The PM and his brainless ministers just want to get praised by keeping the country open, students appearing for exams in these tough pandemic times. He doesn’t cares who dies or who survives. If the current situation can’t make him change his decision and impose complete lockdown, nothing ever will. He’s just waiting with open heart and hands for the situation in india to happen here too....I’m actually at loss of words for IK, Shafqat Mehmood and the other so called jokers.
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Nk Apr 24, 2021 07:09pm
The real motive of this social media campaign is something else and many are aware.
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M.MUJTABAKHAN Apr 24, 2021 08:15pm
If coronavirus reached to me then Imran khan and SHAFQAT MEHMOOD will be responsible.Please cancel the exams.Covid 19 is dangerous for students of pakistan.You can't put the life of students in danger.
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Faraz-Canada Apr 24, 2021 09:55pm
@Shahroz Beta if you have time to write this post you have time to study. Chalo go study now. Your non preparedness mentally is your own mistake
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Afifa Apr 24, 2021 10:10pm
@Aziz USA No the court was totally incompetent. It demonstrated no understanding or insight of the situation, the students are not asking not to be tested they are asking for exams to be cancelled and SWITCHED to an alternative SAFER, tried & tested , validated form of assessment called TAGS which has been done by all the rest of the zone 4 countries EXCEPT Pakistan. Why? because of the high risk of infectivity when students are assembled together for physical exams. Last year when death rates were lower this method was used universally. But the PTI hybrid government is too stupid & inhumane where students are concerned . It continues to make illogical decisions & endanger lives.
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Ahmad Apr 25, 2021 01:37am
@Abrar these are international exams it isn't fair that pakistani students get to do them and the others are marked based on their internal assessments. wouldn't expect you to understand what students have been going through this last year though because we just make up excuses to not study huh.
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Abdulrehman Apr 25, 2021 05:00am
How can students give exams no schools were opened this year no one was educated how can any student pass?opening books learning chapters is not education this is just waste of time.
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Abdulrehman Apr 25, 2021 05:01am
@Huma ya ur right
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Ali Iqbal Apr 25, 2021 06:39am
People in the comments seem to be missing he point entirely. Everyone is asking government for stricter restrictions and changing in-person exams to school-assessed grading will help stop spread of covid. Why is the government forcing students to take in person exams? Students are at a loss here because grade thresholds will be abnormally high, their preparation is already poor due to a year of online classes where you don't learn anything and obviously there is the risk of catching covid. Government is just waiting for cases to explode and people to be dying on the streets while also punishing students.
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Aaliya Apr 25, 2021 09:33am
It makes us so sick that people keep talking about how students want 'free pass' and have other motives behind their request. Not a day goes by that we wish we hadn't have to attend school under these conditions and those who haven't please stop ruthlessly passing such remarks. We're not comfortable with appearing for physical examination and don't see a single valid reason why we're being forced to. Have students in other countries received a 'free pass' or a reassurance of their safety under such trying times?
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Shazaib Apr 25, 2021 10:40am
You can see the Markets and Restaurants filled up with these kids as if COVID is very selective in infectious places
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Ayaan Ali Junejo Apr 25, 2021 12:30pm
To all the 50 year olds in the comment section, saying that students have an ulterior motive in wanting to cancel exams.. Just think for a second. Think about the 100s of cases that will root from these exams.. And honestly, the kids might just be fine... Think about yourselves. Your old. Your body will have to fight hard to survive... You really want that? ... Instead of letting students keep their families safe.. Keep YOU safe by taking Teacher assessed grades? It's sickening. We are running out of oxygen. you people thnk that this is just so we don't have to study. And not to even mention the fact that all year round we've had nthing but useless ineffective online classes. How do you expect us to perform? When the rest of the WORLD has cancelled exams. What On earth is holding us back. By taking these exams, we are only at an international loss, as other countries will receive much better grades through TAGS. But why would you adults understand.. You've never been through this.
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Abdullah Apr 25, 2021 02:00pm
@Abrar We are saying close everything possible, we aren't those type of kids which you are thinking about, Alhamdullilah mere 8th class ma 96% ai thi, ma parhai se bhaag nahi rha, mene 9th ke papers dene ha aur mera tyari achi ha, ye btanay ka maqsad ha ke ham students bhaag nahi rhy studies se, we love our life more than studies and grades.
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Momina Apr 25, 2021 11:34pm
Honestly, I think the exams should be cancelled most children are not mentally prepared and when we literally took online classes for the whole year why face to face exams then. Children's health should be the first priority. It's better to lose a grade than build a grave.
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Humayra Apr 26, 2021 03:36am
The USA is the worst case of Covid 19, yet we've had students take all exams. Why is there such outrage in Pakistan over students taking exams? Privileged much?
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Qaiser Apr 26, 2021 04:19am
While one has to admire the decision of the courts, there is definitely more than meets the eye. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the students being asked to physically appear for the exams as the demand was nothing more than a farce for extracting the presumed grades rather than actually earning the same. These very students would be going on a picnic and party spree on the coming Eid but are reluctant to physicalky sit for the exams citing the corona scare......what a shame
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