Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Thursday announced that students of class 9 and class 11 would be promoted to next grade without exams.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the education minister announced holding of special exams in November to September for those students who want to improve their marks, composite exams and those who fail in 40 percent subjects.  

He said that the promoted students will take part in 10th and 12th class examination next year. The marks of class 9 and class 11 would be given as per the results of class 10 and class 12. He said that all the students will get an additional 3 percent marks at the time of promotion to the next grade.

“It is observed that more marks can be obtained in class 10 than the class 9. It is therefore decided that special exam would be taken place in September to November. Those students who want to appear in special examinations should register themselves in their respective boards until July 1. Those students who fail in 40 percent subjects can appear in special exams,” the minister added.

Shafqat Mahmood said that four million students could not take part in exam due to coronavirus in the country.

The government had already announced closing educational institutes until July 15 while cancelling board exams until the end of this year.

Shafqat Mahmood said that due to the ongoing crisis, the board examinations for the ninth grade to intermediate (12th grade) will not be held.