G-B revises elementary exam passing criteria to 33pc after protests

GILGIT: In response to widespread protests and criticism, the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government has reinstated the passing criteria for grades five and eight under the Board of Elementary Examination GB (BEEGB) to 33 per cent.

According to a notification issued by the G-B Education Department on February 12, the decision was made in a meeting chaired by the Minister of Education on February 8. The revision aims to address concerns over the previously stricter marking system.

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Under the new criteria, students securing 33 per cent marks in all subjects will now be considered as having passed. Students failing in one optional subject will still be promoted, while those failing in one compulsory subject with more than 15 marks will also pass.

Similarly, students failing in one compulsory subject with more than 20 marks and one optional subject with more than 15 marks will be promoted.

To support students, those securing 30 marks will receive three grace marks. The BEEGB has also decided to conduct separate board papers for Geography and History. The results for Social Action Program (SAP) and Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) schools will be consolidated to bring uniformity in assessments.

The ministry also introduced measures to improve academic standards, including a structured monitoring system, professional development training for teachers, and improved school infrastructure.

“To ensure a proper monitoring system, director monitoring, deputy directors for monitoring, and AEOs [assistant education officers] will be appointed based on strict competence,” reads the notification.

The notification said teachers would no longer be engaged in non-teaching tasks by any department, ensuring their full attention remains on education. The revised criteria will be implemented immediately, and the results will be announced accordingly.

The revision comes after protests erupted across Gilgit-Baltistan, with students and parents demanding reforms and a reconsideration of the marking criteria.

The Elementary Board announced results for grades 5 and 8 earlier this month, revealing overall pass percentages of 28.62 per cent for grade 5 and 40.78 per cent for grade 8. Gilgit topped the rankings with a 51.69 per cent pass rate for grade 5 and 72.11 per cent for grade 8. Ghizer and Kharmang secured second and third positions in both grades, with pass percentages of 34.22 per cent and 32.58 per cent for grade 5, and 58.11 per cent and 50.93 per cent for grade 8, respectively. No other district achieved a pass percentage above 50 per cent in either grade.

The poor results triggered protests, with failed students blocking the Karakoram Highway (KKH) to demand a reconsideration of the marking criteria.

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Faizullah Khan Lone, Director General of the School Education Department GB, explained to HUM News English earlier this month that the lower pass percentages were partly due to stricter passing criteria introduced by the department. “We made minimum 40 per cent marks mandatory for passing and eliminated the grace marking system, which has contributed to the lower pass percentages,” he said.

He noted that these measures were implemented to address the declining passing rates in grades 9 and 10 and to improve overall academic standards in the region.