Matriculation annual exams in the provincial capital are being started tomorrow, while 14 examination centers have been declared sensitive.
According to sources, these centers include Government ND Islamia High School Ichhra, Government High School Barki, Government Science College Barki, Government High School Atuki Awan, Government High School Jalomor, Chohang, Maraka Quarter and Sher Shah Colony.
Sources say that four centers in Kasur, seven in Sheikhupura and one center in Nankana Sahib have also been declared sensitive.
The exams will start from March 27 (tomorrow), in which the first paper will be of Arabic, Commercial Geography and History. About 250,000 candidates will appear in the matriculation exams while 880 examination centers have been set up while 26 centers will be monitored through CCTV cameras.
Section 144 will be imposed in all the centers and no unauthorized person will be allowed to enter. Candidates will be allowed to enter the examination centers only after identification.
The last matriculation paper will be of Punjabi and Islamic History on April 16, while the ninth grade exams will begin on April 17.
Separately, an all Punjab commissioners meeting was held under the chairmanship of Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, in which arrangements were reviewed in the context of the commencement of matriculation examinations.
According to official sources, the Education Minister directed strict monitoring of centers to ensure transparent examinations, while all officers were instructed to be in the field from March 27 and monitor each center.
The Minister strongly emphasised that officers should not sit in offices but monitor each center, in this regard, all commissioners, DCs, ACs and other officers will be present in the field.
Rana Sikandar Hayat called paper leakage and cheating mafia intolerable and directed to make transparent arrangements.
He further said that foolproof arrangements should be made for monitoring hard areas and sensitive centers, safety measures should be provided for all examination centers, while installation and functioning of CCTV cameras should be ensured in examination.
Minister Sikandar said that the fruits of hard work are the right of every child and cheating mafia should be strongly discouraged.
This year, funds will also be saved due to not setting up centers in private institutions.