Why high stakes examinations and learning don't go together

According to the World Bank, 75% of 10 year olds in Pakistan cannot read or understand a simple story. At the same time, enrolment rates up to the age of 10 are the highest in the country. Why is it then that despite being in school, children never learn to read? Aanya Niaz highlights the perils of high-stakes examinations and their adverse implications on students, teachers and parents. She advocates for a shift from using exams and assessments as the most powerful and often the only measurement of learning, to adopting a blended assessment approach that accommodates both student and teacher needs, creating an enabling learning environment for all.