The Punjab government is considering expanding the Punjab Education, Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA) examination system to private schools, following the successful conduct of Grade 8 board examinations in government institutions.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said nearly one million students appeared in the Grade 8 examinations conducted under PECTAA during the last academic year.
He said the results were compiled and announced within one and a half months through a fully on-screen digital marking system, calling it a major milestone for Punjab’s education sector.
According to the minister, the digital assessment process proved highly effective and transparent, with no errors reported during the marking phase. He described the smooth handling of examinations for around one million students as a significant administrative and technical achievement.
Rana Sikandar Hayat said the government is now reviewing proposals to bring private schools under the PECTAA examination framework to establish a uniform, transparent, and standardized assessment system across the province.
He added that the scope of Grade 8 board examinations would be further expanded next year, and the success of the digital marking system has demonstrated its reliability, efficiency, and scalability.
Education experts believe the on-screen marking model has improved accuracy, transparency, and timely result announcements, making it a strong candidate for broader implementation across both public and private education sectors in Punjab.
Officials said further consultations with private school representatives and education stakeholders are expected before a final decision is taken on expanding the PECTAA system province-wide.
