{
  "id": 5800295,
  "title": "Inter Board Coordination Commission relaxes equivalence criteria for foreign-board students with two science subjects",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/inter-board-coordination-commission-relaxes-equivalence-criteria-for-5800295",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T15:58:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2027716/inter-board-coordination-commission-relaxes-equivalence-criteria-for-foreign-board-students-with-two-science-subjects"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Inter Board Coordination Commission (IBCC) has relaxed the equivalence criteria for students from foreign boards who have completed at least two science subjects, offering enhanced flexibility in academic routes. Furthermore, the commission proposed the establishment of 12 more Deeni Madaris to align their qualifications with SSC and HSSC, elevating the total number of institutions under the equivalence framework to 26. To facilitate easier identification and verification of academic records, the IBCC also decided to include B-Form/CNIC numbers on SSC and HSSC certificates. Additionally, the commission will provide scholarships and overseas exposure opportunities for board toppers, and organize winter and summer camps to offer high-achieving students broader learning, leadership, and exposure opportunities. These decisions were made during the 184th IBCC Forum meeting held in Murree. The forum's decisions aim to transition Pakistan's examination system from rote learning towards conceptual assessment, improving transparency, uniformity, and the international recognition of Pakistani qualifications. The IBCC Forum, comprising chairpersons from Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs), technical education boards, and senior representatives of curriculum and textbook boards, emphasized the importance of active participation and collective ownership in examination reforms. The forum focused on implementing the prime minister's directives for standardisation of the examination system, adopting measures for greater uniformity in assessment and examination practices to bolster the credibility and international standing of Pakistani qualifications. Moreover, the IBCC agreed to develop a uniform calendar for theory and practical examinations, as well as formulate common guidelines and procedures for practical exams to ensure consistency, fairness, and transparency across examination boards. BISE Kohat, BISE Quetta, and FBISE shared their successful practices, innovative initiatives, and outcomes for potential adoption and replication by other boards. IBCC Executive Director Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah commended the Punjab government for merit-based chairperson appointments, recognizing competent professional leadership as a valuable addition to the IBCC Forum and the national effort to transform examinations from rote learning to conceptual assessment. He also praised the Sindh government and Sindh examination board chairpersons for implementing e-marking province-wide, highlighting it as a significant step towards transparency, efficiency, and credibility in the examination system. Dr Mallah stressed that the reforms pursued through the IBCC Forum are part of a broader national effort to develop an examination system that emphasizes understanding over memory, rewards genuine learning, embraces technology, and strengthens the national and international recognition of Pakistani qualifications.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The Inter Board Coordination Commission (IBCC) on Saturday decided that Science Group equivalence would be awarded to students of foreign boards who had passed at least two science subjects, providing greater flexibility in academic pathways. Similarly, the forum recommended 12 additional Deeni Madaris for equivalence of their qualifications with SSC and HSSC, bringing the total number…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Inter Board Coordination Commission relaxes equivalence criteria for foreign-board students with two science subjects",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/inter-board-coordination-commission-relaxes-equivalence-criteria-for",
        "published": "2026-09-05T15:58:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}