MOHMAND  -  The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) annual examinations commenced across Mohmand district on Tuesday, but several centres in remote areas experienced a two-hour delay due to the late delivery of question papers, reportedly caused by the bank’s opening schedule.

According to details, examination centres in Ambar Musa Kaur, Danishkool, and Qila Gayi in Safi tehsil remained closed during the early hours as papers could not be dispatched before 8:30 am, the official bank opening time. The disruption sparked concern among parents, who urged the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) to ensure timely delivery of exam materials going forward.

Assistant Commissioner Headquarters and focal person for the SSC exams, Usman Hamza, acknowledged the delay and cited logistical issues as the primary cause. “Due to the bank opening at 8:30am, the papers reached some centres late. The board must take immediate notice and resolve this issue,” he said.

This year, 5,733 students — both male and female — are appearing in the SSC exams at 25 centres across the district. To uphold transparency, the district administration has assigned five centres to each officer for regular inspection and oversight.

In a bid to curb malpractice, officials also instructed individuals present outside the examination centres to remain on-site during exam hours, aiming to deter cheating through increased vigilance.

Despite these preventive measures, the delays at three centres prompted parents to call on BISE to coordinate more effectively with bank authorities. “Bank staff must be directed to report earlier during exams so that students don’t suffer,” one parent remarked.

The district administration has assured continued monitoring of the exam process and urged the education board to streamline logistical arrangements to avoid further disruptions during the ongoing examination cycle.