Islamabad, March 31: The Class VIII examinations, which were previously conducted under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), would be held from now onwards under the Federal Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (FBISE), announced Federal Minister for Education Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali.

Addressing the award distribution ceremony of Centralised Annual Examinations for Class V and Scholarship Award Distribution for Class VIII, the minister said the Ministry of Education is striving to set an example for the provinces to be followed by bringing a change in the examination system.

"The examinations under the FBISE will certainly improve the quality of education and the examination system at the secondary level," he added. The minister announced that a huge sum of money, expected to arrive in Pakistan through the Kerry-Lugar Bill, is meant to be used in the education sector. "We have planned several projects in consultation with the provinces, which will be started following the arrival of money after September," he said.

Sardar Aseff said that a lot of reforms could be brought about in the education sector. Even billions could be spent on improving the standard of education besides establishing new academic institutions. "It is the responsibility of the government to provide appropriate educational opportunities to the people and we are hopeful that it will be done in the near future," he added.

The minister announced an increase in the amount of scholarship money, as the previous amount for scholarship holders of Class VIII was Rs300 per month, which has been increased to Rs1,000 per month. Similarly, the previous amount for scholarship holders of Class V was Rs200 per month, which has been increased to Rs500 per month.

In Class V examinations, Sidra Kanwal of the Federal Government Girls Middle School, Sector G-6/2, received the overall top honour. Bushra Khudadad Kayani of the Federal Government Girls Middle School, Humak, got the overall second position. Ayesha Amin of the Allama Iqbal Model School, Tarlai Kalan, obtained the overall third position. The aforementioned students also received awards for being position holders among girl students.

In Class V examinations (among boys), Zeeshan Tariq of the Allama Iqbal Model School, Tarlai, received the first prize. Steefan Javed of the Federal Government Junior Model School, F-6/1, received the second prize. Sulzeb Shafi of the Federal Government Junior Model School, I-8/1, obtained the third prize.

The overall top positions in model academic institutions in Class V examinations were obtained by the students of Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB), G-10/4. Bashir Ahmed received the first prize, Malik Kashan Faisal received the second prize and Hamood Ahmad received the third prize. The above-mentioned students also received prizes for obtaining top positions among boys.

The top position among girls in model academic institutions in Class V examinations was obtained by Zainab Arooj of the Islamabad College for Girls, F-6/2. Fatima Virk of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-7/4, obtained the second position. Nimra Sattar of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-10/2, secured the third position.

The overall top position holders in model academic institutions in Class VIII examinations included Aymen Naeem of the Islamabad College for Girls, F-6/2, who received the first prize, Saqib Jamil of the Federal Government Boys Model School, G-9/4, obtained second prize and Israr Ali of the Ali Trust College, Khanna, received the third prize.

The heads of those academic institutions whose students received overall top positions also received awards. In federal government and private schools, these awards were given to Nuzhat Zehra of the Federal Government Girls Middle School, G-6/2, Parveen Kausar of the Federal Government Girls Middle School, Humak, and Ilyas Mehrban of the Allama Iqbal Model School. The award of 'Best Head' in model academic institutions was given to Khalid Niazi of the Islamabad Model College for Boys, G-10/4.

The awards of 'Best Head' in the Class VIII examinations were given to Shaista Pirzada of the Islamabad College for Girls, F-6/2, Abdul Aziz Bhatti of the Federal Government Boys Middle School, G-9/4, and Tariq Qureshi of the Ali Trust College, Khanna.

Addressing on the occasion, FDE Director General Dr. Shaheen Khan said that it is impossible to gain fruitful targets in the education sector without improving primary and secondary level education. "Currently, the education sector is facing lack of professionals and resources and abundance of problems. It is commendable that despite all these factors, our students are performing well," she added. She said huge reforms are required in the education sector, which could only be made through political will and provision of funds.