KARACHI: The Chairman of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) has taken strict notice of complaints regarding the treatment of female students at examination centers, officially directing that students should not be asked to remove their burqas.
Key Highlights of the Directive
Following reports of inappropriate checking procedures during the ongoing 9th and 10th-grade examinations, the Chairman issued clear instructions to ensure the privacy and dignity of all female candidates. All checking procedures must be conducted in a civilized and dignified manner, and the Board has mandated that only female staff members are authorized to conduct security checks on female students. This directive emphasizes maintaining religious sensitivities and personal privacy while ensuring that cheating is strictly prevented.
Addressing Concerns
The move comes as a response to various complaints from parents and students who felt the previous checking methods were intrusive or disrespectful. By enforcing these new guidelines, the Board aims to resolve the concerns of parents regarding their children’s modesty and maintain a comfortable environment for students to focus on their exams. The decision ensures that the personal integrity of candidates is upheld without compromising on examination transparency.
The Chairman reiterated that while curbing academic malpractice remains a priority, it must not come at the cost of a student’s fundamental right to dignity and religious expression.
