Govt exempts class 8th board exams

LAHORE: Punjab authorities declared that 8th-grade board exams will be mandatory only for government schools, while private schools will have the option to participate.

As per Education Board officials, a comprehensive framework for the exams such as the list of subjects, distribution of marks, and procedure for dispatching question papers to examination centers will be finalized and announced within next 20 days.

The exams will be taken under the supervision of the Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) and are tentatively scheduled for February or March 2026. High-performing schools will be rewarded, while poorly performing schools can expect disciplinary action.

In another development, the Punjab Education Curriculum Training and Assessment Authority (PECTA) decided to suspend 5th-grade board exams for the ongoing year.

The decision is meant to alleviate stress during exams and ensure learning is centered on learning and concepts. Authorities said the move is in line with contemporary teaching practices that prioritize ongoing evaluation over classic high-stakes testing.