LAHORE: The Punjab Education Department has announced a major shift in the province’s academic structure, making board-level examinations mandatory for 5th and 6th-grade students. The new system will be overseen by the Punjab Education Curriculum Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA).
According to the official notification, the decision was taken after a review of recent matriculation results, which showed below-par performance. Authorities believe that early exposure to structured board exams will help students build stronger academic and cognitive foundations, ultimately improving results in higher grades.
School administrations have been instructed to start preparations immediately. In addition, each institution must submit an academic improvement plan to align with the new assessment framework.
Teachers’ Union opposes the decision
The Punjab Teachers’ Union (PTU) has strongly criticized the move, recalling that similar attempts in the past—such as board exams at the 5th-grade level—were unsuccessful. Union representatives argue that instead of implementing new policies abruptly, the department should develop a comprehensive and long-term strategy for education reform.
Despite criticism, the department insists the new policy will be enforced from the current academic year. However, concerns remain among educators about the practicality of the decision and its psychological impact on younger students.