A National Assembly Standing Committee on Education subcommittee voiced displeasure with Cambridge Assessment International Education's (CIE) conclusions on the recent leak of O and A level test papers.

The topic was reviewed during the Monday meeting, which was presided over by MNA Sabheen Ghoury.

Three exam papers were partially leaked, according to CIE authorities, including Country Director Uzma Yousuf.

According to reports, one question from AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 12, two sections of two problems from Paper 42, and a section of one question from Computer Science Paper 22 were distributed prior to the tests. Officials, however, denied that there was any proof that whole documents had been released.

As a solution, Cambridge has committed to giving students full credit for the impacted questions. Committee members were not happy, though. They took issue with the report's failure to pinpoint the leakers or provide an explanation for how they happened.

According to MNA Ghoury, the panel is in favor of student justice and asked CIE to confer with parents and students prior to the June 30 meeting. Although it is not recommended, she continued, any student who chooses to retake in October shouldn't be assessed fees. The full committee will hear additional recommendations.

Punjab Is Hiring Retired Teachers

The Punjab government has chosen to hire retired instructors on a contract basis in order to cover significant teaching staff shortages throughout the province, as the faculty shortfall in government medical colleges continues to deteriorate.

The Punjab Health Department officially announced that the hiring age for retired academic members has been raised to 65 years old.

In order to address the lack of faculty in critical medical specialties such as pediatric and cardiac surgery, pulmonology, oncology, cardiology, biochemistry, forensic medicine, and anesthesia, this action was taken.

All 36 of the province's government medical schools and teaching hospitals have received orders from the health administration to finish the hiring process by June 30. At least 12 departments have been identified as having severe shortages, and associate professors will be the primary focus of the emergency hiring.

Public sector medical facilities were informed in a letter that these appointments are only temporary and will terminate immediately when permanent employees are hired through standard hiring practices.