ISLAMABAD, June 3: Bad news for Cambridge O Level students, as their schools managements have cancelled their Islamiat and Pakistan Studies papers and asked the students to reappear in the examination.

Papers of Islamiat I and Pakistan Studies I will be held on June 13 and Islamiat II and Pakistan Studies II on June 14.

Mother of a student of private school (City School), requesting not to be identified, said: “It was shocking for me because I sold all the papers including notes of my daughter to a junk dealer early in the morning. I contacted the management of the school and came to know that some question papers were allegedly leaked,” she said.

A father of a student said that exams were held on May 7 to 15. “I have booked seats for Saudi Arabia and was preparing to leave on June 12 along with my family but on Monday I received a call from school that exams will be held again so I have no option but to postpone my visit,” he said.

“The papers were leaked in Karachi, but students in federal capital will have to bear the brunt,” he said.

A teacher said: “Most of the students of O Level are good at English and other subjects but they face difficulty in solving question papers of Urdu, Islamiat and Pakistan Studies.

So it has created further problem for them,” she said.

A head of an institute on condition of anonymity said the managements of schools were also puzzled because of the decision as it would increase their work. On the other hand, British Council Pakistan has put an official statement on its website that Cambridge International Exams (CIE) is currently investigating a breach in the security of their exam papers for Cambridge O Level and Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies in Pakistan.

These exams were taken by students in Pakistan in May 2013.

Statement says in order to ensure the continuing integrity of CIE exams and results students are being required to take new examinations for these two subjects.

CIE’s investigation into the matter is ongoing, but at this stage they can confirm that the situation was not initiated in Pakistan and that the British Council Pakistan was not party to this compromise in any way.

“This is a difficult situation for all concerned, and the CIE understands the inconvenience caused to you, your students and their families. CIE’s first priority is to ensure a valid and fair outcome for all Cambridge students,” the official added.