In a major move, the Sindh cabinet has approved grace marks for first-year students across Karachi’s educational boards. The decision was part of a broader agenda at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, which also included banning plastic shopping bags and backing FATF-related efforts against terror financing.
The proposal to provide grace marks for first-year students stemmed from concerns about the significant drop in academic performance in the 2024 intermediate results. The universities and boards department reported alarming trends that prompted swift action from the provincial leadership.
Earlier in January 2025, the Sindh Assembly had formed a special committee to investigate this academic decline. Following a detailed inquiry, a sub-committee recommended granting grace marks for first-year students—including 20% in chemistry and 15% in physics and mathematics.
Although the Sindh Boards Ordinance, 1972, does not explicitly permit grace marks for first-year students, the cabinet drew on precedent from 2023, when the caretaker CM approved a similar exception due to exam-related disruptions.
CM Murad Ali Shah expressed dissatisfaction with the boards’ performance and directed a comprehensive review of all provincial educational boards. In parallel with providing grace marks for first-year students, he ordered systemic reforms to ensure transparency and prevent future irregularities.
