Federal board may postpone examinations for overseas students in Gulf countries amid ongoing war

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) is considering postponing examinations for overseas Pakistani students living in Gulf countries owing to the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has spread across the Gulf region.

The FBISE conducts examinations in 12 countries every year, with the majority of these centres located in the Gulf region. This year's examinations were scheduled to begin on March 31, but their fate now remains uncertain due to the escalating conflict.

A senior officer of the FBISE confirmed the development, stating that the board is weighing its options carefully.

"In the entire Gulf region, we conduct exams but unfortunately this year due to the ongoing war, we are upset and are planning to postpone these exams," the senior officer said.

Sources within the FBISE indicated that if the prevailing security situation in the Gulf continues, the board would have no choice but to delay the examinations until conditions normalise in the region. The ongoing hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran have made holding examinations in the Gulf region a particularly challenging prospect this year.

"Apparently, we will have to go for postponement, but the final decision will be made after Eid," the official added.

Decision expected after Eid

The FBISE has not yet taken a final decision on the matter, with officials indicating that the board will assess the situation following the Eid holidays before making a definitive announcement. The potential postponement would affect Pakistani students enrolled with the federal board who are residing across multiple Gulf states where the FBISE regularly administers its annual examinations.

The development has raised concerns for thousands of Pakistani students in the Gulf who had been preparing for the board's scheduled examinations starting at the end of March. The FBISE's examinations in overseas centres are a critical academic exercise for children of Pakistani expatriates, particularly those working in Gulf countries.

The board appears to be leaning towards postponement rather than cancellation, with officials signalling that the examinations would be rescheduled once the security environment in the Gulf region improves sufficiently to allow the safe conduct of the exams.