Passing Criteria Revised for SSC and HSSC Students
The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has announced a new grading policy aimed at improving academic performance and evaluation standards.
Under the revised new policy, students will now be required to score at least 40 percent in each subject to pass their examinations starting from 2026.
The crucial decision marks a major shift from the previous benchmark of 33 percent, which had been followed by the Intermediate and Secondary board for several decades.
According to FBISE board officials, the new policy will apply to both Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary School Certificate students.
Officials said the measure aims to ensure that students achieve a stronger understanding of course material rather than relying on minimal passing marks.
The decision follows a comprehensive review conducted by the Inter Board Coordination Commission, which compared grading policies of different educational boards.
Based on its findings, the commission recommended introducing stricter criteria to promote academic discipline and improve overall learning outcomes.
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The revised standards are also expected to align Pakistan’s assessment framework more closely with global education practices.
Officials further stated that schools affiliated with the board would receive detailed guidelines to help students adapt to the updated passing requirements.
Education experts have welcomed the move, calling it an important step toward improving classroom learning and student preparedness for higher education.
Earlier this week, Punjab announced a Rs 100 million reward programme to honour the top 100 performing schools across all 36 districts for their excellence in education and infrastructure.
Under the initiative, each selected school will receive Rs 1 million in recognition of outstanding performance, improved learning outcomes, and institutional development.
The programme includes schools under the Punjab Education Foundation and the Punjab Education Initiative Management Authority, as well as government-outsourced institutions.
