Pre-Quality Assurance Test (QAT) of private schools for their partnership with the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) under the Foundation Assisted Schools (FAS) Programme in Phase-7 will commence from today (Monday). More than 0.3 million students from 4,400 schools from various districts of the province would take part. The purpose of this Pre-QAT is to select schools suitable for partnership with the PEF. PEF Academic Development Unit Project Officer Zia-ud-Din Butt said the test would be conducted by institutions of repute so that transparency and impartiality could be fully ensured. The detailed schedule of the Pre-QAT test has been issued on the PEF website for the convenience of the applicants. PEF has set up a central control room to monitor the test, set to conclude on December 13. According to the exam schedule, two classes from primary schools would be tested, while three classes from secondary school would be tested. The schools have been directed to ensure 90 percent attendance on the exam day. It is mandatory that 66.67 percent students should obtain 35 percent marks in English and at least 40 percent marks in the rest of the subjects to qualify for the partnership.