ISLAMABAD: Arts-group students at the matriculation level will now be eligible to enroll in pre-medical and pre-engineering programmes at the intermediate level, following the notification of a new policy by the Inter-Board Coordination Commission (IBCC) on Friday.
The IBCC, which coordinates among all education boards in the country, said the policy will take effect from the first annual Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations of 2026. Under the new arrangement, students who have passed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) in the arts group will be allowed to register in pre-medical and pre-engineering streams.
According to the notification, the decision was taken unanimously during the IBCC Forum’s 183rd meeting held on December 4 and 5, 2025. The meeting included representatives of all education boards and followed consultations with key stakeholders, including the Pakistan Engineering Council, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Higher Education Commission, National Curriculum Council and provincial curriculum authorities.
The notification stated that the forum also recommended that relevant institutions introduce measures such as minimum merit thresholds, aptitude or placement tests to maintain academic standards and uniformity across boards. However, the final decision on such requirements will rest with individual boards, subject to approval by their respective boards of governors or other competent authorities.
The policy decision has been formally shared with all education boards across the country for implementation.
In another significant development, the forum approved a change for O- and A-level students. Under the new policy, students who pass two major subjects at O- or A-level will now be granted equivalence in the science group instead of the humanities group, expanding their academic options at the intermediate level.
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The IBCC Forum also discussed a broader reform proposal to abolish the separate science and arts streams at the matriculation level and replace them with a single Secondary School Certificate offering flexible elective subject choices. However, officials said this proposal requires further deliberation and will be taken up again in future meetings before any final decision is made.
The Inter-Board Coordination Commission on Friday notified a new policy allowing students with an arts background in matric to enroll in pre-medical and pre-engineering groups at the intermediate level.https://t.co/nCUM6zlXnV
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 13, 2025
IBCC Executive Director Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah said the policy shift was aimed at widening opportunities for students. He said rigid academic pathways had previously limited students’ options and that any candidate capable of meeting the academic requirements of pre-medical or pre-engineering programmes should be allowed to compete.
Dr Mallah clarified that while the notification specifically mentioned pre-medical and pre-engineering groups, arts students would also be eligible to opt for other intermediate streams such as ICS and I.Com, describing the decision as a major step towards a more inclusive education system.
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