Board Confirms Dates for Grade 5 and 8 Annual Exams

Authorities have announced that board examinations for Class 5 and Class 8 students in government schools across Rawalpindi will begin in 2026.

According to the official schedule, admission forms for the annual exams will be accepted from November 3 to 15, 2025. Class 5 exams will start on February 9, 2026, while Class 8 exams are scheduled from February 16 to 24. The results will be declared on March 31.

The Punjab Education Curriculum Training and Assessment Authority (PECTA) will oversee the examinations, replacing the Punjab Examination Commission. A spokesperson said the step is intended to prepare students for board-style assessments before advancing to higher grades.

However, teacher unions have expressed strong opposition. Leaders Muhammad Shafiq Bhaluwalia and Basharat Iqbal Raja criticized the plan, calling it a “failed experiment” that has been attempted twice before. They argued that excluding private schools will increase pressure on public school students.

The union leaders also cautioned that many children, particularly girls, could drop out if they fail the Class 8 exam, warning of long-term consequences for education in the region.