BANNU: The students who secured low marks in the matric and intermediate examinations of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Bannu on Thursday held a massive protest outside the board building.

Local sources said it was the second day of protests by the students over their below expectation results. The protesting students gathered outside the offices of BISE Bannu and chanted slogans against the chairman and other staff.

The protesting students alleged that marks were not given on the basis of performance of candidates but on the desire of the board officials. They alleged that the BISE Bannu had not applied the formula announced by the government due to coronavirus pandemic while awarding marks to the candidates. They said the staff awarded more marks to the relatives of the elite while the poor talented students were deprived of their due rights.

The students then held a meeting with the board chairman and apprised him of their grievances.

The result of the BISE Bannu was announced few days ago and the topper secured 1094 marks out of 1100. The board topper would come under inquiry along with many other students who have secured 1090 or more marks.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department on Wednesday constituted an eight-member committee to verify and reassess the papers of candidates securing above 1090 marks out of 1100 in metric and intermediate examinations. This was done after outcry on social media about the unbelievably high marks secured by some students in the matric and intermediate exams.

In Mardan, where the topper has secured 1100 out of 1100 marks has raised many eyebrows. However, the education board chief explained that these marks became possible after applying of the government formula of 5 percent additional marks due to coronavirus pandemic.

The decision of passing all the students in the exams is also coming under sharp criticism as critics believe that this has killed the quality of education and the result cards may not reflect the true position of the students.

Beneficiaries of the decision are happy over the results, but those who have got low marks are staging protests.