Ninth-grade student moves court after receiving zero marks in Biology paper

PESHAWAR: A ninth-grade student has approached the High Court after receiving zero marks in the theory portion of his Biology examination.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Babar Sattar heard the petition filed by ninth-grade student Abdul Moeez Khan, challenging the awarding of zero marks in his Biology theory paper.

During the hearing, the court directed the Controller of Examinations, Peshawar Board, to produce the student’s Biology answer sheet at the next hearing.

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Amin-ur-Rehman Yousafzai, told the court that the student had secured an A1 grade in his ninth-grade examinations. He said the student scored 23 out of 25 marks in Biology MCQs and practical examinations, but was awarded zero marks in the theory paper.

The counsel said the student had applied for rechecking and also requested the examination board to show him his answer sheet. However, the board informed him that no rules had yet been formulated for allowing students to view their examination papers that year.

The lawyer further told the court that his son studies at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), where students are allowed to view their papers after evaluation. The court observed that a similar practice is followed in other countries, where students can review their answer sheets after checking.

The petitioner’s counsel requested the court to summon the answer sheet from the education board so that the court could examine it directly.

The court subsequently ordered the Controller of Examinations, Peshawar Board, to produce Abdul Moeez Khan’s Biology paper at the next hearing for examination.