The Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) and the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) concluded a three-day capacity development workshop on conceptual examination at the Federal Board auditorium in Islamabad, bringing together senior trainers, examiners and educationists from across the country to promote assessment practices that emphasize critical thinking and application of knowledge over rote memorization.
Organized to strengthen professional skills among examiners, paper setters and assessors, the workshop focused on modern assessment techniques designed to encourage student-centered learning and meaningful learning outcomes. Sessions introduced practical approaches for designing concept-based questions, assessing higher-order thinking, and aligning examinations with curricular goals.
Speakers highlighted the long-term importance of the initiative. The Vice Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University praised the training for its potential to foster critical thinking, effective analysis and purposeful application of knowledge—qualities he called essential for success in a competitive global environment. IBCC Executive Director Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah described the move toward conceptual examination as a decisive shift away from rote systems toward learning that prioritizes understanding and critical thought. Chairman FBISE Prof. Dr. Ikram Ali Malik noted that the transition to conceptual learning is part of an ongoing educational reform that began in 2015.
The workshop was led by Sadia Naz Brohi and featured expert trainers from AKU-EB, including Munira Mohammad, Ali Bejani and Kashif Hussain, who provided guidance on contemporary assessment practices. Representatives from IBCC, including Dr. Shahzad Ali Gill, Irfan Ali Ansari and Deputy Director Muhammad Nadeem, also participated in the sessions.
Participants praised the training sessions as a milestone in educational reform, reporting that the practical tools and insights received will help examiners design assessments that better measure understanding and real-world application. Organizers said the workshop will inform future capacity-building efforts as the boards continue to promote conceptual, critical and meaningful learning across the examination system.
