ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Monday expressed its dissatisfaction over the findings of Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) about the alleged O and A level exam paper leak.
The subcommittee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Education, which met in Islamabad with MNA Sabheen Ghoury in the chair, took up the one-point agenda of the paper leakage.
During the course of the hearing, Country Director of Cambridge Assessment International Education Uzma Yousuf along with another official of Cambridge shared the findings of the probe.
The subcommittee was told that no complete paper was leaked.
However, during probe it was established that there was partial leakage of three papers that include AS & A level Mathematics Paper 12, where one question was shared before the exam and AS & A level Mathematics Paper 42 where parts of two questions were shared before the exam.
Members want to know more about paper leak, subcommittee to meet again on June 30 to finalise recommendations
Similarly, the subcommittee was informed that parts of one question of the AS & A level Computer Science paper 22 were shared before the exam.
It was told that in all three cases no evidence was found about the entire paper being leaked.
The Cambridge officials further told the committee that students would be given full marks in these questions.
The subcommittee members said they wanted to know whether papers were leaked or not, but Cambridge was claiming only some questions were leaked.
They expressed dissatisfaction over the probe report and directed Cambridge to do more for students.
“Today, we inform Cambridge that we are not satisfied with the report. We wanted to know more like who was involved and from where the papers were leaked. Anyhow, we directed them to consult students and come up with a viable proposal for the next meeting,” gonvenor of the subcommittee MNA Sabheen Ghoury told media.
She said the Cambridge officials were asked to contact parents and students to get their point of view and feedback on this probe report.
To a query about the retake of exam, she said: “Ideally we are not in favour of a retake; we want maximum relief for students right now and we will ensure justice for students…in case some students opt for retake in October then we will ask Cambridge not to charge fee for them,” she said.
It is relevant to note here that parents and students had stated that four papers were leaked this year.
To this, National Assembly Standing Committee on Education headed by MNA Dr Azimuddin Zahid Lakhvi took up the matter in the main committee before forming the subcommittee. MNA Mohammad Ali Sarfraz, who attended the main committee and subcommittee as special invitee, pointed out that several papers were leaked and also presented paper codes and video evidence to the subcommittee.
The subcommittee was supposed to look into the authority and legal cover under which CIE is conducing examination in Pakistan, the number of examination per year, the number of students appearing per year and the cost of each examination.
It will also look into remedies and measures adopted by CIE in the past in the wake of leakage of questions papers.
The term of reference of the subcommittee stated that after hearing all sides, it will finalise actions that can safeguard students and take assurance from the CIE to take befitting measures to compensate students and to avert such incidents in future.
The subcommittee will meet again on June 30 to finalise its recommendations, which will be presented before the main committee.
Published in media, June 24th, 2025
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