Educational Reforms and Policies discussed and recommended in 180th IBCC Meeting Islamabad, November 18, 2024 — The 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐁𝐂𝐂) held its 𝟏𝟖𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 at the 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐅𝐁𝐈𝐒𝐄) in Islamabad on November 18-19, 2024. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Junaid Akhlaque, National Coordinator of the IBCC Forum/Chairman FBISE along with Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah , Executive Director, IBCC, with active participation from chairpersons of all education boards and a diverse range of stakeholders in education and assessment.

The first day of the meeting encompassed deliberations on various deliberations on various pressing matters to enhance Pakistan’s educational landscape. Progress on the 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 (𝐌𝐀𝐅), aimed at standardizing assessment practices across regions, was presented before the Forum and was appreciated. The development of a Digital Question Item Bank to align assessments with the proposed 𝐌𝐀𝐅 was endorsed by the Forum.

The Forum also reviewed and approved several critical policies to enhance the quality and inclusivity of education in Pakistan. In a move to promote equitable access to education, the Forum approved waivers of registration and examination fees for orphan students, alongside the inclusion of an orphan status column in examination registration forms to ensure targeted support for these vulnerable learners.
Recommendations to align examination schedules with university admissions schedules, particularly for medical and dental colleges, were also discussed and agreed by all regions to have a uniform calendar by starting examination in March/April and declaring results in June/July, reflecting a commitment to streamline academic pathways.

Proposals to enhance the skills of teachers, assessors, and examination staff through structured training and certification programs under IBCC’s mandate were widely endorsed and termed as a significant leap forward to augment capacity-building initiatives. Additionally, the Forum resolved to strengthen the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 (𝐈𝐁𝐒𝐂) and acknowledged the successful organization of national and international sports events by 𝐈𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐬 of respective provinces.

Members also shared innovative examination practices and assessment models, underscoring the collective commitment to promote excellence and inclusivity in education. The Forum reiterated its commitment to equitable, standardized, and quality-driven education across all boards.

The 𝐈𝐁𝐂𝐂 remains steadfast in its mission to harmonize educational standards, address emerging challenges, and drive reforms in Pakistan’s education sector. The resolutions adopted during the 𝟏𝟖𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 underscore a forward-looking approach to building a resilient and inclusive education system.