Last Updated on: 24th April 2021, 05:18 pm
Dozens of Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) students demanding teacher-graded grades protested outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on April 2 against the O-Level and A-Level exams scheduled for April and May.
Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood announced on April 6th that the exams will take place as planned from May 3rd. But many students, as well as celebrities like Hadiqa Kiani and Asim Azhar, continued to urge the minister to reflect on the consequences.
Unsuccessfully, four different Supreme Courts on Friday denied students’ requests to cancel physical exams or switch to expected grades. Students from all corners of Pakistan ran a social media campaign for the cause, backed by politicians, celebrities and other influential figures.
Now the hashtag #ImranKhanCancelExams is very trending on Twitter as the National Center for Command and Operations (NCOC) and the Pakistani government refuse to advise against a decision that could have dangerous effects on the current Covid-19 crisis.
“We have found no justification or reason to interfere when all the arrangements for the physical exams are in place. And a large number of students are ready to appear for the examination while few have turned to the court. The obstruction of the whole process is completely unjustified and detrimental to the interests of a large number of students who are ready to appear and religiously prepare, “the Supreme Court of Sindh said of the petitions.
We do not find any justification or rationale to interfere… when all arrangements have already been made for physical examination & large number of students … are geared up to appear in the exam while few students only approached to the court of law ….
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) April 23, 2021
Following this, many showbiz stars like Jibran Nasir, Waqar Zaka, Feroze Khan, Momina Mustehsan and Shahveer Jafry expressed their support for the students. “I would like to thank the #Cambridge students who participated in one way or another and supported a common cause. Although I didn’t win the court case, I congratulate them for holding the government accountable and asserting themselves as political actors,” Jibran Nasir tweeted.
Want to thank #Cambridge students who participated, rallied and supported a common cause in whichever way. Despite not winning the Court case I congratulate for making #Govt accountable and asserting yourself as a political stakeholder. My video message:https://t.co/GU3dTem7sO
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) April 23, 2021
By refusing to call off Cambridge exams, @OfficialNcoc is recklessly endangering thousands of children for the sake of money. Job titles will not save you from the wrath of parents if something happens to these kids. I am one of those parents. I won’t be taking prisoners 🔥🔥🔥
— Tom Hussain (@tomthehack) April 23, 2021
Waqar Zaka resorted to asking the prime minister to make the necessary changes after all hope appears to have been lost. “Peshawar to the ISB and now the Sindh Supreme Court has ordered that the exams should not be canceled. Sorry we tried. But now it’s the prime minister who can cancel the exams, so Khan Sahab Sari fame doesn’t worry. But the relay students from dou ko #ImrankhancancleEXAMS. “
Peshawar to ISB and now Sindh high court ordered that exams will not be cancelled, my apology we tried but it’s @ImranKhanPTI , Prime minister is the one who can cancel it ,khan sahab sari fame apko hi miley gi don’t worry but relief de dou students ko #ImrankhancancleEXAMS
— Waqar Zaka (@ZakaWaqar) April 23, 2021
Mustehsan continued, “Wouldn’t it be better to cancel the exams or wait for the wave to subside? The curve should be flattened. Personal testing puts the entire nation at risk for transmission, especially at this crucial time. “
Would it not be better to consider cancelling exams,or to wait for the wave to subside? The curve needs to be flattened. In person examinations puts the entire nation at risk of transmission,esp at this crucial time 😷🙏🏼 @Shafqat_Mahmood #cancelexamspakistan2021 #StayHomeStaySafe https://t.co/s7mfEDT6OQ
— Momina Mustehsan (@MominaMustehsan) April 23, 2021
– cancel exams save lives.
— Feroze Khan (@ferozekhaan) April 23, 2021
In these difficult times our prayers are with people of #India may God be kind and may these difficult times gets over soon. #coronavirus
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 24, 2021
The rest of Twitter is merely telling the Prime Minister to prevent the current Indian crisis in Pakistan.
