By Justice (R) Syed Manzoor Hussain Gillani
In recent months, a significant debate has emerged in Azad Kashmir: Should additional educational boards be established in Muzaffarabad and Poonch alongside the existing Mirpur Board? Or would it be more beneficial to directly link the education system of Azad Kashmir with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE)?
The ordinary citizen often thinks that a board is merely an examination-conducting authority—so why is this debate so intense? In reality, this is not just a question of exams or results. It is fundamentally about the quality of education, transparency, uniformity, employment opportunities, and most importantly, the future of our students.
Regional vs Federal Boards — What Is the Actual Difference?
A regional board is established at the district, divisional, or regional level—such as the Mirpur Board. If new boards are created in Muzaffarabad and Poonch they too will fall into this regional category.
The Federal Board (FBISE) operates under the Federal Ministry of Education and oversees examinations and curriculum for institutions not only in Pakistan but also in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, former FATA regions, and Pakistani schools abroad. Owing to its centralized authority and credibility, its certifications are widely accepted at national and international levels.
What Role Does IBCC Play?
The Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) is a national institution responsible for establishing coordination, parity, and uniform standards among all educational boards in Pakistan—whether federal or regional. It acts as a joint platform where representatives from all boards exchange experiences, formulate common policies, and periodically review performance.
Its primary objectives include:
- Ensuring Matriculation and Intermediate certificates are recognized internationally, not just within Pakistan;
- Standardizing curriculum, marking methods, examination procedures, and result systems across all boards in line with national standards;
- Guaranteeing that a student from Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, or the Federal Board is treated equally in matters of admission, employment, or scholarship anywhere within or outside Pakistan.
What Benefits Could Additional Boards Bring to Azad Kashmir?
Azad Kashmir is geographically diverse and includes remote mountainous and snowbound areas like Neelum, Leepa, Chikar, and Haveli. Establishing two more boards may bring several advantages:
- Students, parents, and government officials would no longer need to travel long distances to Mirpur for examination-related matters;
- The administrative load on a single board would be reduced, allowing quicker and better-organized examinations, marking, and result compilation;
- New boards would generate employment opportunities—officers, administrative staff, paper setters, supervisors, and examination centers would be required;
- Minor adaptations in curriculum could be made keeping in view local linguistic, cultural, and academic requirements—although it must be acknowledged that 95% of Azad Kashmir shares the same language and culture, with only slight differences in accent.
Potential Risks and Concerns
Like every reform, this proposal also carries potential drawbacks, and these must not be overlooked: - If each board adopts its own examination and marking methods, variations in standards and inequities among students may arise;
- Increased number of offices and administrative posts could open doors to political interference, favoritism, and nepotism;
- Infrastructure costs for buildings, staffing, systems, and operational expenses could place extra pressure on the government’s already limited budget;
- If these new boards are not properly linked with the Federal Board and IBCC, students may face challenges in competitive exams such as CSS, armed forces recruitment, international scholarships, or admissions to top universities.
If Linked with the Federal Board—What Are the Advantages?
Affiliating Azad Kashmir’s education boards with the Federal Board would be similar to how the region follows Punjab in matters of salary structures and administrative models—without implying subordination.
Such an arrangement would provide students with certifications that are nationally and internationally recognized. It would also ensure uniformity of curriculum, marking, and results. Merit for national competitive examinations—such as CSS, armed forces, engineering, and medical services—would become clearer and more transparent.
So, What Is the Most Practical Solution?
The most balanced approach could be to establish additional boards under the umbrella of Federal Board connected with the IBCC to follow their system as for as possible as subsidiary centers under the Federal Board connected with the IBCC at the helm . None would be absolutely autonomous with out being subservient to other. In fact equal with others but in line with IBCC through Federal Board .
At present, the Mirpur Board is affiliated with the Punjab Board. If future boards in AJK are academically linked with the Federal Board through IBCC, the syllabus, examinations, and marking would follow federal standards, while day-to-day administration and facilitation could remain at the local level.
The Federal Board could oversee staff training and ensure quality control. In this way, educational standards would rise, regional requirements would be met, and students’ futures would remain secure.
It is worth noting that several federally structured institutions have been successfully localized in Azad Kashmir for public convenience—such as the High Court and Supreme Court branches, Public Works and Electricity Departments, universities, and medical colleges.
Conclusion
The real issue is not whether there should be one board or three. The real question is whether additional boards are necessary. The answer appears to be yes—because public convenience and broader access to educational services demand it. The concerns associated with this expansion can be effectively managed through strong governance, administrative discipline, and professional integrity.
If political motives dominate this decision, future generations will bear the brunt . However, if it is guided by need, quality, equity, and foresight, this step could become a cornerstone for a brighter educational future in Azad Kashmir.
This decision should not be shaped by regional biases—Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot—but by a broader national vision and collective wisdom.