The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has implemented a significant change in the practical examination system for medical colleges, shifting from the conventional viva voce format to the Objective Structured Viva Examination (OSVE).
This decision, endorsed during a joint meeting of the Academic Council and Boards of Studies, was presided over by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore.
Under the revamped system, the Oral/Practical/Clinical examination will now be conducted through Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE), Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and the newly introduced Objective Structured Viva Examination (OSVE).
OSVE is recognized for its effectiveness in evaluating students’ conceptual understanding and professional expertise, representing a novel approach in the Pakistani education system.
The OSVE format employs a circuit of ‘stations,’ each designed to assess specific learning objectives. While OSPE and OSCE were previously in use, OSVE marks its debut in Pakistan, having already proven successful in assessment methodologies in other countries.
According to the new modular curriculum, first-year MBBS candidates will undergo assessment through 12 observed stations in each subject’s practical exam.
Out of these stations, 7 are allocated for OSPE, 3 for OSCE, and 2 for OSVE. External examiners will oversee each station, and the presence of medical students’ teachers as internal examiners has been excluded.
Furthermore, the meeting established a prerequisite for Third Year MBBS promotion, requiring students to pass Islamyat/Ethics and Pakistan Studies subjects in the Second Professional examinations. Unlike the previous policy, where students could advance to the third year without passing these subjects, the updated rule mandates repeating the year in case of failure.
In a broader scope, the meeting also greenlighted the implementation of the semester system in nursing and allied health degree programs, starting from the session 2023-24.
These changes collectively represent a comprehensive effort by the UHS to enhance assessment methodologies and align educational practices with contemporary standards.
