Eighty‑one government schools in the Rawalpindi district posted a 0 percent pass rate in the Board’s ninth‑grade matriculation examinations released on 6 September 2026, meaning none of the students enrolled in those institutions cleared the compulsory exam.
Education officials said the dismal result has triggered an immediate review of the schools’ performance, with the district’s chief executive officer and the Punjab School Education Department signalling that the heads of the failing schools could face disciplinary action, including suspension or removal, if investigations confirm negligence or mismanagement. The board’s spokesperson warned that accountability measures will be applied “without delay” to protect the right of students to receive a quality education.
The ninth‑grade exam, which forms a prerequisite for the final matriculation (grade 10) assessment, saw an overall district pass rate of 68 percent, according to the Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. However, the zero‑percent outcome in the 81 schools dragged the average down and highlighted a stark contrast between private institutions—where pass rates regularly exceed 85 percent—and the public sector, where resources are often stretched thin.
Teachers’ unions have pointed to chronic shortages of qualified staff, inadequate teaching aids, and overcrowded classrooms as underlying causes. In many of the affected schools, class sizes exceed 45 students, and the latest audit revealed that more than 30 percent of classrooms lack functional blackboards or sufficient lighting, conditions that impede effective learning and assessment preparation.
Parents of the affected pupils expressed frustration and fear for their children’s future prospects. “Our sons and daughters have spent years in these schools, and now they are told they have failed an exam that decides whether they can continue to higher secondary education,” one mother from Rawalpindi Cantt said. Community leaders have called for urgent remedial interventions, such as supplementary coaching, provision of study materials, and an accelerated teacher‑training program focused on the matriculation syllabus.
The provincial government has already earmarked additional funds for the upcoming academic year, promising upgrades to infrastructure and the deployment of mobile tutoring units to under‑performing schools. Moreover, the Board announced that it will organise a supplementary examination for students from the 81 schools, giving them a second chance to qualify for grade 10, provided they meet the minimum attendance and internal assessment requirements.
Education analysts warn that without systemic reforms—ranging from stricter monitoring of school performance to increased budgetary allocation for the public education system—the zero‑percent phenomenon could recur in future exam cycles. They stress that ensuring consistent oversight and equipping teachers with modern pedagogical tools are essential steps toward bridging the widening gap between public and private schooling outcomes in Rawalpindi and across Punjab.