Punjab’s education boards are preparing to introduce a digital marking system for board examinations, replacing traditional paper-based checking with on-screen evaluation. Under the proposed system, completed answer scripts will be scanned and converted into secure digital records before being assigned electronically to authorised examiners. The initiative is aimed at reducing marking errors, improving accountability and giving students greater confidence in the examination process.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has directed education boards to introduce online screen marking initially on a pilot basis for supplementary examinations. The proposed system will allow examiners to access scanned scripts through a controlled online platform rather than receiving physical bundles of answer books at conventional marking centres. The approach is expected to reduce the physical movement of examination papers while allowing boards to maintain digital records of marking activity. The provincial government had earlier directed boards to introduce digital reforms in examination and result compilation and to test online screen marking for supplementary examinations.
A major part of the proposed system is stronger verification of examiners. Sources said the framework may use facial recognition or other secure authentication methods before an examiner is allowed to access assigned scripts. The objective is to ensure that the authorised examiner is the person actually evaluating the paper and to reduce the possibility of login credentials being shared. The system is also expected to impose time limits on marking, enabling examination authorities to monitor pending scripts and identify unusual delays. Each marking activity can generate an electronic record, creating an audit trail showing when a script was received, who evaluated it and how long the evaluation took.
The Lahore Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has already begun testing its e-marking system. A mock test involving 150 students from Government College University, Punjab College and Superior College was conducted as part of the pilot project, with officials reviewing the arrangements. Lahore Board officials said the system could allow qualified teachers from across Pakistan to participate in marking, while digital evaluation is also expected to reduce complaints related to rechecking. The proposed wider system may distribute papers or individual questions to examiners in smaller electronic batches, which could improve monitoring and consistency.
The digital marking initiative is part of Punjab’s broader effort to modernise the examination system. Earlier announcements indicated that the province plans to move matriculation examination marking towards screen-based evaluation, with answer sheets carrying QR codes for digital processing. The government has also discussed digital result cards and online rechecking applications as part of the wider reforms. However, the latest announcement does not provide a final province-wide implementation date for all examinations. The initial focus remains on piloting digital marking for supplementary examinations before the system is expanded further.
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