Education adviser defends HSC results, calls for self-reflection and reforms

Education Adviser CR Abrar said on Thursday that officials avoided giving extra marks to please students and instead assigned fair marks in this year’s HSC and equivalent exams. He pointed out that the unusually poor results highlight a deep-rooted learning shortage that begins at the primary level and worsens as students progress through the education system.

The results showed nearly a 19% drop in the pass rate and more than a 52% decline in GPA-5 holders compared to last year. Abrar emphasized that the culture of focusing solely on pass rates and GPA-5 achievements had masked the real crisis in learning. He said the results should genuinely reflect what students have learned, not just numbers.

He also stated that this outcome should be seen as an opportunity for self-reflection, not failure. Independent review reports from each education board will be prepared, and an expert panel will analyze the data to identify learning gaps. Random audits will be conducted to verify the evaluation process, with a focus on improving quality, not punishment.