KARACHI, Nov 22: The Sindh Education Minister, Dr Hamida Khuhro, told the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday that the examination of class IX would not be held in the year 2006 but 9th and 10th class examination would be held together in the year 2007.

Replying to a point of order raised by Hamidullah Khan Advocate of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), the education minister said the decision was taken at the federal government level in a meeting chaired by the president.

She said this decision was also endorsed in an inter-provincial meeting of the provincial education ministers.

Mr Hamidullah in his point of order said that parents, teachers and students were unsure whether class 9th exams would be held in 2006 or not as

Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim and provincial education minister were giving different statements in this regard.

Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim had ordered on Oct 21 for the restoration of the old system of class 9th and 10th examinations in the year 2006 and asked the federal education ministry to make necessary headway and had directed the education boards of Sindh to implement his directives in this regard.

Replying to queries raised by MMA MPA, Dr Hamida Khuhro said the decision of taking composite exams of class 9th and 10th was even endorsed by President Musharraf and the Sindh education department would honour its commitment at the federal level.

“There will be no separate class 9th and 10th exams in 2006 and combined exams of these classes would be taken in 2007” she informed.

Dr Khuhro informed the house that the issue of the curricula was also being addressed and soon a complete policy in this regard would be conveyed to all the concerned.

Chapter on Pir Pagara: Dr Khuhro also informed the Sindh Assembly that a chapter on Pir Pagara and his Hur followers was being added in the primary textbook to highlight their services to the motherland.

She stated this when MPA Begum Gulzar Unnar from treasury benches, on a point of order, paid rich tributes to Pir Pagara on the occasion of his birthday and said the House should suspend the business for one hour to pay tribute to Pir Pagara for his services to the country.— APP/PPI