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Pre-engineering students allowed to switch to medical with one additional subject
November 05, 2019
It was decided that pre-engineering students who have passed their FSc could switch over to pre-medical if they pass the additional subject of biology. — Online/File
ISLAMABAD: In a major policy decision, the education ministry has decided to allow pre-engineering students to switch to pre-medical by taking biology as an additional subject.
Sources in the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training said the decision was made following complaints lodged by students on the Pakistan Citizen Portal.
They said that after receiving the complaints the ministry took up the matter with the concerned directorates and the National Curriculum Council (NCC).
With approval from the NCC, it was decided that pre-engineering students who have passed their FSc could switch over to pre-medical if they pass the additional subject of biology.
A notification, which was signed on Oct 31 and distributed among the stakeholders on Monday, stated: “National scheme of studies at higher education secondary school certificate (HSSC) level has been designed as a package containing a number of subjects necessary to qualify for HSSC.”
Decision taken following complaints lodged by students on Pakistan Citizen Portal
Currently, students passing the pre-medical group are allowed to appear in additional subject of mathematics to opt for the engineering group but students passing the pre-engineering group are not allowed to appear in additional subject of biology to switch over to the medical group.
“Besides, students are encouraged to appear in A-level biology exam to get pre-medical equivalence certificate from the Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC),” the notification said.
It added: “In order to remove disparity and facilitate the students passing the pre-engineering group, the National Curriculum Council reviewed the existing rules/policy/scheme of study and allowed the students passing pre-engineering group to appear in additional subject of biology to switch over to the pre-medical group.
When contacted, Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) Chairman Dr Ikram Ali Malik confirmed to Dawn that the education ministry had issued the notification.
“So far, I could not go through the notification but we will follow whatever the directive of the education ministry,” he said.
However, Dr Malik said according to the scheme of study, 200 hours of practical work was involved in biology at the FSc level so the board will have to decide how practical work would be covered by the students.
He said across the country no educational board was offering the facility of switching over from pre-engineering to the pre-medical group.
“When we will implement, we will be the first board,” he said.
Another official of the FBISE said covering 200 hours practical work was not an easy task so implementation of the notification would be difficult.
Sources in the education ministry said there were around 30 educational boards and except for the FBISE the others fell under the domain of provincial governments as education was a devolved subject.
Asked about the concerns expressed by some FBISE officials, the official in the education ministry said FBISE is only supposed to conduct exams.
“The board is supposed to conduct exams and it is up to students to prove their ability. Students after passing pre-engineering can easily manage their practical work for the additional subject of biology. They will appear in exams to be conducted by the board and if they prove good they will pass, so there should be no such confusion in this regard. Students should be given a chance to grow,” he said.
Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2019
November 05, 2019
It was decided that pre-engineering students who have passed their FSc could switch over to pre-medical if they pass the additional subject of biology. — Online/File
ISLAMABAD: In a major policy decision, the education ministry has decided to allow pre-engineering students to switch to pre-medical by taking biology as an additional subject.
Sources in the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training said the decision was made following complaints lodged by students on the Pakistan Citizen Portal.
They said that after receiving the complaints the ministry took up the matter with the concerned directorates and the National Curriculum Council (NCC).
With approval from the NCC, it was decided that pre-engineering students who have passed their FSc could switch over to pre-medical if they pass the additional subject of biology.
A notification, which was signed on Oct 31 and distributed among the stakeholders on Monday, stated: “National scheme of studies at higher education secondary school certificate (HSSC) level has been designed as a package containing a number of subjects necessary to qualify for HSSC.”
Decision taken following complaints lodged by students on Pakistan Citizen Portal
Currently, students passing the pre-medical group are allowed to appear in additional subject of mathematics to opt for the engineering group but students passing the pre-engineering group are not allowed to appear in additional subject of biology to switch over to the medical group.
“Besides, students are encouraged to appear in A-level biology exam to get pre-medical equivalence certificate from the Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC),” the notification said.
It added: “In order to remove disparity and facilitate the students passing the pre-engineering group, the National Curriculum Council reviewed the existing rules/policy/scheme of study and allowed the students passing pre-engineering group to appear in additional subject of biology to switch over to the pre-medical group.
When contacted, Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) Chairman Dr Ikram Ali Malik confirmed to Dawn that the education ministry had issued the notification.
“So far, I could not go through the notification but we will follow whatever the directive of the education ministry,” he said.
However, Dr Malik said according to the scheme of study, 200 hours of practical work was involved in biology at the FSc level so the board will have to decide how practical work would be covered by the students.
He said across the country no educational board was offering the facility of switching over from pre-engineering to the pre-medical group.
“When we will implement, we will be the first board,” he said.
Another official of the FBISE said covering 200 hours practical work was not an easy task so implementation of the notification would be difficult.
Sources in the education ministry said there were around 30 educational boards and except for the FBISE the others fell under the domain of provincial governments as education was a devolved subject.
Asked about the concerns expressed by some FBISE officials, the official in the education ministry said FBISE is only supposed to conduct exams.
“The board is supposed to conduct exams and it is up to students to prove their ability. Students after passing pre-engineering can easily manage their practical work for the additional subject of biology. They will appear in exams to be conducted by the board and if they prove good they will pass, so there should be no such confusion in this regard. Students should be given a chance to grow,” he said.
Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2019
woh 1st year ki Maths/Physics aur 2nd year ki Chemistry .. 
