By Khalid Khattak
THE silence of the Punjab government over award of scholarships to selected candidates under the previous government’s initiative, Outstanding Talent Development Scholarship, has been greatly irking the students and their worried parents.The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) had announced the scholarships (Phase-II) in April 2007 for BS, MS and MPhil/PhD students in areas of Computer Science, Information Technology, IT Management, Telecom Engineering, Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering, Mathematics and MIS/Management/ Information Systems for Punjab domiciled, academically talented and financially needy students.The deadline for the project was twice extended with September 29, 2007, as the last day to apply. After selection of the successful candidates, scholarship deed was signed by students and their parents/guardians. However, since then the selected students have been waiting for funds from the government to pay for their studies.Interestingly, some recipients of the scholarship had even completed their studies but were still waiting for funds. Their institutions have refused to issue their degrees, which have been adding to their miseries. One such student, Usman Khalid, told The News that after signing of the deed, assurances were given by PITB officials that the funds would be released immediately but to no avail.He said he completed his post graduation from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) under varsity’s study-loan keeping in view the same would be covered by the PITB scholarship. “The amount outstanding against me is still Rs 52,791”, he said, adding, “I would not be able to attend my convocation if I do not repay the loan.” He said on June 18, 2008, he registered a complaint at the Punjab Chief Secretary Complaint Cell (Complain No 102) after which some PITB officials contacted him and assured that the scholarship issue would be resolved within 15 days.Usman further said afterwards he personally met PITB officials and even registered another complaint (No 490) at the Chief Secretary’s Complaint Cell but received only verbal assurances without any outcome. He said selected students were quite upset because of the unavailability of the funds. To a question, Usman said he had now planned to pay the remaining loan himself so that he could attend the convocation to receive his degree. Recently, in a letter to The News, another student Saqib Saghir had highlighted similar issue requesting the Punjab chief minister to take note of the delay to save students and their families from suffering.
Source: The News International
Monday, December 08, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
School heads fired for poor Matric results
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE School Education Department has fired six heads of schools showing extremely poor results in recent matriculation examinations.The department has also demoted a headmaster with a warning to improve results next time. The School Education Department secretary took disciplinary action against headmasters under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act 2006.It was also decided that the department would issue appreciation letters to headmasters who showed 100 percent pass percentage.Those who have been removed from services are: Muhammad Boota, headmaster of Government High School, Narang, Mandi Bahauddin (matriculation result of the school for 2008 was 3.85 percent), Mrs Naheed Kousar, headmistress of the Government Girls High School, Kidarpur, Bahawalnagar (0 percent), Muhammad Akram Zia, headmaster of the Government High School, Gorayala, Attock (eight percent), Abdul Rehman headmaster Government High School, Sobiana Gherbi, Jhang (0 percent), Mrs Shehnaz Asghar, headmistress of Government Girls High School, 72/10-R, Khanewal (nine percent) and Musarrat Jabeen, Senior Subject Specialist Government Girls Higher Secondary School, 261/WB, Vehari (6.25 percent).Rashid Mahmood, senior headmaster Government High School, Bhambe Kalan, Kasur (serving in BPS 18) was demoted as his school showed only 10 percent result.When contacted, Secretary School Education Department Punjab Nadeem Ashraf said those who had been removed from service were earlier issued show-cause notices. He said they were also given a personal hearing but none of them could give a satisfactory reply. He said schools these headmasters headed had produced satisfactory results in the past and sudden decline in performance was very disturbing. ‘The performance of schools was extremely poor this year’ he said adding ‘Action had to be taken as there was no other option left’. Replying to a question, the schools secretary said the department was taking action against all those heads of schools who had produced 10 percent or below results in matriculation 2008 examination. He said a number of posts of headmasters were vacant and additional charge was given to senior subject specialists BPS-16. He said schools headed by senior subject specialists were issued show-cause notices by executive district officers (education). ‘EDOs will be take disciplinary action against heads of schools showing poor results’, he said.
Source: The News International
Saturday, November 22, 2008
LAHORE: THE School Education Department has fired six heads of schools showing extremely poor results in recent matriculation examinations.The department has also demoted a headmaster with a warning to improve results next time. The School Education Department secretary took disciplinary action against headmasters under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act 2006.It was also decided that the department would issue appreciation letters to headmasters who showed 100 percent pass percentage.Those who have been removed from services are: Muhammad Boota, headmaster of Government High School, Narang, Mandi Bahauddin (matriculation result of the school for 2008 was 3.85 percent), Mrs Naheed Kousar, headmistress of the Government Girls High School, Kidarpur, Bahawalnagar (0 percent), Muhammad Akram Zia, headmaster of the Government High School, Gorayala, Attock (eight percent), Abdul Rehman headmaster Government High School, Sobiana Gherbi, Jhang (0 percent), Mrs Shehnaz Asghar, headmistress of Government Girls High School, 72/10-R, Khanewal (nine percent) and Musarrat Jabeen, Senior Subject Specialist Government Girls Higher Secondary School, 261/WB, Vehari (6.25 percent).Rashid Mahmood, senior headmaster Government High School, Bhambe Kalan, Kasur (serving in BPS 18) was demoted as his school showed only 10 percent result.When contacted, Secretary School Education Department Punjab Nadeem Ashraf said those who had been removed from service were earlier issued show-cause notices. He said they were also given a personal hearing but none of them could give a satisfactory reply. He said schools these headmasters headed had produced satisfactory results in the past and sudden decline in performance was very disturbing. ‘The performance of schools was extremely poor this year’ he said adding ‘Action had to be taken as there was no other option left’. Replying to a question, the schools secretary said the department was taking action against all those heads of schools who had produced 10 percent or below results in matriculation 2008 examination. He said a number of posts of headmasters were vacant and additional charge was given to senior subject specialists BPS-16. He said schools headed by senior subject specialists were issued show-cause notices by executive district officers (education). ‘EDOs will be take disciplinary action against heads of schools showing poor results’, he said.
Source: The News International
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Book Mafia
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: ABSENCE of any regulations on textbooks being recommended by private schools had made it difficult for parents to bear the cost of the books as most of the elite schools recommend expensive books from foreign publishers for their students.The prices of such books could be lowered down provided the government 
evolves a regulatory mechanism in this regard or copyrights are given to local publishers to print these books within Pakistan.Though some of the foreign big names in publishing industry have come to Pakistan and are printing books, yet the prices are still very high as compared to the local publishers’ books in the market. The import of books is also causing flight of capital from Pakistan to other foreign countries. The News talked to a number of publishers and almost all of them were of the view that there was a mafia which had been operating smoothly and making its foundation stronger day by day because of absence of checks and balances from the government.They were of the view that books of foreign publishers were more expensive as compared to books of the local publishers despite the fact local publishers were producing excellent books both in term of content and material.It is generally observed that most of the private schools especially elite schools recommend most of the books of foreign publishers and some of local publishers for their students and the parents have to spend a good amount on purchase of the books besides bearing other expenses too in form of heavy tuition fees and admission charges of private schools.The private schools offering foreign qualifications like O/A levels have no other option but to prescribe books of foreign publishers since curriculum of these qualifications is developed by the respective countries while examinations are also conducted by the foreign bodies.Majority of the private schools which offer matriculation stream recommend textbooks of foreign publishers from Class 1 to 8. However, for classes 9 and 10 all such schools of the province like public sector schools have to rely on the textbooks prepared by the Punjab Textbook Board (PTB) since boards of the province conduct exams from the PTB books.Unlike students of private schools, the government school students of the province are taught from the PTB books. These textbooks are distributed free of cost among students of public sector schools unlike students of private schools. It is generally observed that most of the schools also make it mandatory for parents to purchase books, uniforms and other study related material from prescribed shops only.Talking to The News parents of a number of students expressed concerns over costly textbooks recommended by the private schools because most of these books were being imported or published by foreign publishers. On the other hand representatives of various private schools while talking to The News shared deep reservations about the local textbooks especially the PTB textbooks saying the books did not match standard of foreign publishers both in term of content and material.They argue that most of the private schools prescribe books of foreign publishers because of their quality and standard, saying that parents prefer sending their children to private institutions because of quality education there. The importance of quality books in this situation cannot be ignored”, they add.Mansoor, whose son studies at a local private school, says he has to spend good amount of money on purchase of books and other related material. He said the school had prescribed books printed by foreign publishers owing to which these are more expensive than locally printed books.Naseem, father of another girl studying at a local private school in class 5, said the school had recommended books of foreign publishers, adding that complete set of his daughter’s course books cost him more than Rs 5,000. He was of the view that the prices of these books would have been much low if these were printed by local publishers or the PTB.Hassan, principal of a private school, said his school recommended books of foreign publishers as well as local publishers owing to quality of content and material. He said unfortunately the books being developed by the PTB were not as good as of other publishers owing to which most of the schools preferred foreign books. These books are certainly expensive as compared to PTB books but one cannot comprise on quality. He said most of the schools would be ready to adopt PTB books provided it improved quality of books’ content and material.A representative of an elite private school said only those people who could afford send their children to private schools, adding that they were well aware of expenses involved in pursuit of quality education. The price of books is not issue for them, he says, adding that they are concerned about what is the standard and quality of education being imparted to their children.All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA) President Adeeb Jawadani was, however, of the view that majority of the private schools recommended books of PTB since students had to appear in exams conducted by local boards. He said books of foreign publishers were prescribed by elite schools especially those offering O/A level qualifications. He said it was unfortunate that books published by foreign publishers were not prepared keeping in view social and cultural values of Pakistan. “A class 6 book of foreign publisher recommended by elite private schools is giving sex education to small children”, he said adding, “It is unfortunate small children are being exposed to child birth process in the said book and that too with the help of pictures”.“Such books are meant for medical students”, he said adding “It is tragic that government does not ask elite private schools what syllabus they were teaching to the students”.Jawadani went on to say what would be state of education when elite schools were owned by policy makers including parliamentarians. The previous government wanted to evolve a regulatory body for private schools but to no avail, he added.“There should be uniform education system in the country”, he said adding “It is really pathetic that schools have now become status symbol”.Talking to The News, former president of Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association who also owns a publishing company, Khalid Pervaiz, said there was no checks and balances on foreign publishers whose books were being recommended by private schools especially elite private schools. Khalid Pervaiz who is also President of Anjuman-e-Tajran, Urdu Bazaar, said there was a mafia which had been operating to promote foreign publishers in the country, adding that owners of elite private schools were also favoured by this mafia. “They are working purely on commercial basis ignoring Pakistan’s ideology and culture”, he said and demanded the government take notice of the situation.Talking about the power of the book-mafia, he said even wife of the former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf had to intervene when the authorities wished to recommend books of his (Khalid Pervaiz’s) publishing house for the Army Public Schools instead of books of some foreign publishers.Academic circles are also very critical of the standard of PTB textbooks saying the government must develop books which are accepted by majority of the private schools too. They argue the move would also help in saving revenue send abroad by purchasing foreign books.Commenting on the issue, the newly appointed chairman of the PTB, Sohail Masood, agreed that most of the private schools especially elite schools did not recommend PTB books. He said that private schools, however, recommended different PTB books including Urdu, Islamiat and Pak Studies to their students.He said it was for the first time that the government had decided to outsource the book development (book writing) adding that under the plan private publishers would be invited to develop the PTB books, an exercise which was earlier done by board’s own subject specialists, he added.He expressed hope that the move would improve the standard of PTB books which would certainly help in attracting majority of the private schools. Replying to a question, Sohail Masood said there was no provision in the PTB Ordinance to regulate prices of books recommended by private schools.
evolves a regulatory mechanism in this regard or copyrights are given to local publishers to print these books within Pakistan.Though some of the foreign big names in publishing industry have come to Pakistan and are printing books, yet the prices are still very high as compared to the local publishers’ books in the market. The import of books is also causing flight of capital from Pakistan to other foreign countries. The News talked to a number of publishers and almost all of them were of the view that there was a mafia which had been operating smoothly and making its foundation stronger day by day because of absence of checks and balances from the government.They were of the view that books of foreign publishers were more expensive as compared to books of the local publishers despite the fact local publishers were producing excellent books both in term of content and material.It is generally observed that most of the private schools especially elite schools recommend most of the books of foreign publishers and some of local publishers for their students and the parents have to spend a good amount on purchase of the books besides bearing other expenses too in form of heavy tuition fees and admission charges of private schools.The private schools offering foreign qualifications like O/A levels have no other option but to prescribe books of foreign publishers since curriculum of these qualifications is developed by the respective countries while examinations are also conducted by the foreign bodies.Majority of the private schools which offer matriculation stream recommend textbooks of foreign publishers from Class 1 to 8. However, for classes 9 and 10 all such schools of the province like public sector schools have to rely on the textbooks prepared by the Punjab Textbook Board (PTB) since boards of the province conduct exams from the PTB books.Unlike students of private schools, the government school students of the province are taught from the PTB books. These textbooks are distributed free of cost among students of public sector schools unlike students of private schools. It is generally observed that most of the schools also make it mandatory for parents to purchase books, uniforms and other study related material from prescribed shops only.Talking to The News parents of a number of students expressed concerns over costly textbooks recommended by the private schools because most of these books were being imported or published by foreign publishers. On the other hand representatives of various private schools while talking to The News shared deep reservations about the local textbooks especially the PTB textbooks saying the books did not match standard of foreign publishers both in term of content and material.They argue that most of the private schools prescribe books of foreign publishers because of their quality and standard, saying that parents prefer sending their children to private institutions because of quality education there. The importance of quality books in this situation cannot be ignored”, they add.Mansoor, whose son studies at a local private school, says he has to spend good amount of money on purchase of books and other related material. He said the school had prescribed books printed by foreign publishers owing to which these are more expensive than locally printed books.Naseem, father of another girl studying at a local private school in class 5, said the school had recommended books of foreign publishers, adding that complete set of his daughter’s course books cost him more than Rs 5,000. He was of the view that the prices of these books would have been much low if these were printed by local publishers or the PTB.Hassan, principal of a private school, said his school recommended books of foreign publishers as well as local publishers owing to quality of content and material. He said unfortunately the books being developed by the PTB were not as good as of other publishers owing to which most of the schools preferred foreign books. These books are certainly expensive as compared to PTB books but one cannot comprise on quality. He said most of the schools would be ready to adopt PTB books provided it improved quality of books’ content and material.A representative of an elite private school said only those people who could afford send their children to private schools, adding that they were well aware of expenses involved in pursuit of quality education. The price of books is not issue for them, he says, adding that they are concerned about what is the standard and quality of education being imparted to their children.All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA) President Adeeb Jawadani was, however, of the view that majority of the private schools recommended books of PTB since students had to appear in exams conducted by local boards. He said books of foreign publishers were prescribed by elite schools especially those offering O/A level qualifications. He said it was unfortunate that books published by foreign publishers were not prepared keeping in view social and cultural values of Pakistan. “A class 6 book of foreign publisher recommended by elite private schools is giving sex education to small children”, he said adding, “It is unfortunate small children are being exposed to child birth process in the said book and that too with the help of pictures”.“Such books are meant for medical students”, he said adding “It is tragic that government does not ask elite private schools what syllabus they were teaching to the students”.Jawadani went on to say what would be state of education when elite schools were owned by policy makers including parliamentarians. The previous government wanted to evolve a regulatory body for private schools but to no avail, he added.“There should be uniform education system in the country”, he said adding “It is really pathetic that schools have now become status symbol”.Talking to The News, former president of Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association who also owns a publishing company, Khalid Pervaiz, said there was no checks and balances on foreign publishers whose books were being recommended by private schools especially elite private schools. Khalid Pervaiz who is also President of Anjuman-e-Tajran, Urdu Bazaar, said there was a mafia which had been operating to promote foreign publishers in the country, adding that owners of elite private schools were also favoured by this mafia. “They are working purely on commercial basis ignoring Pakistan’s ideology and culture”, he said and demanded the government take notice of the situation.Talking about the power of the book-mafia, he said even wife of the former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf had to intervene when the authorities wished to recommend books of his (Khalid Pervaiz’s) publishing house for the Army Public Schools instead of books of some foreign publishers.Academic circles are also very critical of the standard of PTB textbooks saying the government must develop books which are accepted by majority of the private schools too. They argue the move would also help in saving revenue send abroad by purchasing foreign books.Commenting on the issue, the newly appointed chairman of the PTB, Sohail Masood, agreed that most of the private schools especially elite schools did not recommend PTB books. He said that private schools, however, recommended different PTB books including Urdu, Islamiat and Pak Studies to their students.He said it was for the first time that the government had decided to outsource the book development (book writing) adding that under the plan private publishers would be invited to develop the PTB books, an exercise which was earlier done by board’s own subject specialists, he added.He expressed hope that the move would improve the standard of PTB books which would certainly help in attracting majority of the private schools. Replying to a question, Sohail Masood said there was no provision in the PTB Ordinance to regulate prices of books recommended by private schools.Source: The News International
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Booti mafia makes a comeback
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: TWO different incidents of massive cheating during the recent supplementary examinations of intermediate and BA/BSC are evident of the fact that the powerful booti mafia has re-emerged in the province with the help of its strong connections.In the first incident, as many as 12 people were caught red handed for appearing in place of real candidates in the BA/BSc Supplementary Examination held under the Punjab University. According to details, on Oct 25, 12 fake candidates appeared in the examination of English B paper in Centre No 2, established at the Government Degree College, Pattoki. During the routine checking, the college principal and staff stopped the illegal activity and informed the PU Examinations Department. Besides, the Examinations Department was also informed about the incident through an unknown telephone call. On this, the department constituted a five-member inquiry committee to probe into the incident. PU Controller of Examinations Zahid Karim Khan believes that some booti mafia is involved in this incident, adding that there are chances of the involvement of some university officials too.The other incident of massive cheating was reported during the recent Intermediate Part-I Supplementary Examination of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Lahore. One of the exam centres of the BISE at Shahdra was reportedly “hijacked” by the armed members of a student union who “facilitated” the candidates to solve their papers.However, during the next paper, when one of the BISE’s monitoring squads, along with heavy contingent of police, paid a surprise visit to the said exam centre, it found Ashfaq Jutt, a representative of the student union, trying to disrupt the examination once again. Interestingly, when police and the BISE squad tried to arrest him, after he was identified by the superintendent, he succeeded in fleeing from the scene. The board officials got a case registered against him with the Shahdra Police Station. The interference of student unions in examinations is not a new phenomenon. There had been incidents in the past when students organisations used to control the exam centres not only to mint money but also to help their own activists pass different exams. It may be mentioned here that during his previous tenure, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had done his best to purge educational institutions from booti mafia. He had even introduced entry test in medical colleges for the elimination of the mafia. This year when students and their parents expressed concerns over entry test for admission to medical colleges, the chief minister reiterated his stance that entry test was introduced for the elimination of “booti mafia,” adding: “Now full attention will be paid to transparency of general examinations.” He vowed to completely eliminate booti mafia from the province to safeguard the rights of hardworking students.Seen in this context, the recent incidents of cheating, no doubt, pose a great challenge to the authorities concerned to ensure the protection of the rights of hardworking students from the booti mafia.
Source: The News International
Monday, November 03, 2008
ICS: Probe into tampering with results
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) administration has initiated an inquiry into alleged tampering of results at the varsity’s Institute of Communication Studies (ICS), The News has learnt. Sources in the PU administration said that Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran had ordered a probe following complaints received about the alleged tampering of results of viva voce exam of MS (Replica) Session 2005-07.They said it was found during the probe that award sheet signed by the ICS director, the internal examiner and the external examiner was allegedly tampered to get some failed students passed. They said the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture’s director Dr Shaista Nuzhat was the external examiner who had conducted the viva voce exam. Giving details of the probe, the sources said a final award list of the said exam was displayed on November 7, 2007 in which four students were declared as “fail” adding, however, another forged list was displayed soon in which all those who earlier could not clear the exam were declared successful.The sources added the university administration had contacted Dr Shaista Nuzhat seeking her opinion about both the lists. They added the lady had verified that the signatures on the first list as genuine making it clear that her signatures on second list were not genuine.A senior PU official, on condition of anonymity, said the external examiner had informed the administration that the result was tampered as the second list was not signed by her. He said the matter remained in dark until recently when the VC received complaints by some students about the said results. He further said Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz was internal examiner of the said exam. When contacted Dr Shaista Nuzhat said some students could not pass the viva voce exam adding the students as well as some faculty members had approached her at that time to seek favour in this regard. “I did not listen to them and issued the list”, she said adding “I told them to talk to the head of the department if they had any problem”. She confirmed that she had informed the PU administration that the second list was not signed by her hence it was forged. When contacted Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz said he was not internal examiner of the said exam. When contacted, ICS director Dr Mughees Uddin Sheikh said he had not received any complaint or news regarding tampering of the results, adding he would be able to comment once he got information in that connection.He, however, claimed that results prepared at his department were the most transparent in the university. PU registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan was not available for comments. However, when contacted, additional registrar Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir said Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology (IBB) director Prof Dr Muhammad Amin Athar had been appointed as inquiry officer. He also confirmed that Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz was internal examiner of the said exam, adding the inquiry was ordered following the probe proved tampering of the results.
Source: The News International
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) administration has initiated an inquiry into alleged tampering of results at the varsity’s Institute of Communication Studies (ICS), The News has learnt. Sources in the PU administration said that Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran had ordered a probe following complaints received about the alleged tampering of results of viva voce exam of MS (Replica) Session 2005-07.They said it was found during the probe that award sheet signed by the ICS director, the internal examiner and the external examiner was allegedly tampered to get some failed students passed. They said the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture’s director Dr Shaista Nuzhat was the external examiner who had conducted the viva voce exam. Giving details of the probe, the sources said a final award list of the said exam was displayed on November 7, 2007 in which four students were declared as “fail” adding, however, another forged list was displayed soon in which all those who earlier could not clear the exam were declared successful.The sources added the university administration had contacted Dr Shaista Nuzhat seeking her opinion about both the lists. They added the lady had verified that the signatures on the first list as genuine making it clear that her signatures on second list were not genuine.A senior PU official, on condition of anonymity, said the external examiner had informed the administration that the result was tampered as the second list was not signed by her. He said the matter remained in dark until recently when the VC received complaints by some students about the said results. He further said Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz was internal examiner of the said exam. When contacted Dr Shaista Nuzhat said some students could not pass the viva voce exam adding the students as well as some faculty members had approached her at that time to seek favour in this regard. “I did not listen to them and issued the list”, she said adding “I told them to talk to the head of the department if they had any problem”. She confirmed that she had informed the PU administration that the second list was not signed by her hence it was forged. When contacted Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz said he was not internal examiner of the said exam. When contacted, ICS director Dr Mughees Uddin Sheikh said he had not received any complaint or news regarding tampering of the results, adding he would be able to comment once he got information in that connection.He, however, claimed that results prepared at his department were the most transparent in the university. PU registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan was not available for comments. However, when contacted, additional registrar Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir said Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology (IBB) director Prof Dr Muhammad Amin Athar had been appointed as inquiry officer. He also confirmed that Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz was internal examiner of the said exam, adding the inquiry was ordered following the probe proved tampering of the results.
Source: The News International
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
PTB bans use of recycled paper for books
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The Punjab Textbook Board (PTB) has banned the use of recycled paper in preparation of textbooks in order to ensure the provision of quality books to the students of government and private schools of the province. The PTB has also formed an advisory committee comprising of representatives of publishers, mill owners and the board which would monitor the entire process of textbooks printing for the coming academic session. The initiatives have been taken on the special directions of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who took stern notice regarding the provision of poor quality textbooks to the students. Teachers and students have been raising objections to the low quality textbooks being distributed by the government among the students of the government schools. The Punjab government provides free textbooks to students of the government schools across the province. Sources in the PTB said 70 million textbooks would be printed for free distribution among students for the next academic session. They said publishers and printers had been directed to ensure the use of fresh pulp and not recycled paper in preparation of the books. They said the mill owners had also been asked to certify their paper, adding the initiative was aimed at discouraging the practice of using poor quality paper for printing of the textbooks.They said the PTB officials had a meeting with Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Javed Mahmood recently, adding the CS had ensured the assistance of district administration to carry out raids during the printing process. They added the PTB Subject Specialists would also be part of the monitoring teams to ensure that the entire process of publishing and printing was up to the standard. A PTB official, seeking anonymity, said at present 75 percent of the books which were distributed among students of public schools free of cost were printed through open tender system while the remaining 25 percent, meant for open market for sale among students of private schools, were printed through the allocation system. He said owing to the use of recycled paper the PTB had to receive complaints regarding poor quality of books, adding that the banning of recycled paper would certainly help fix the problem.He said, under the open tender system, the entire process of books printing including purchasing of paper was done by the publishers while under the allocation system it was responsibility of the PTB to provide paper to the publishers for printing of the textbooks. He said the PTB would ensure the provision of quality paper to them.The official said in order to avoid any unpleasant situation in the provision of books the PTB had also fixed the dates of orders adding the task would be completed in three installments. He said, for the first installment, Dcember 31, 2008 had been fixed as the last date while for second and third installments January 31, 2009 and February 15 would be the deadlines respectively. When contacted, PTB Chairman Sohail Masood confirmed banning of the recycled paper in preparation of textbooks, adding an action would be taken if the new criterion was violated. He said since mills had been asked to certify their papers they would ensure the provision of quality paper as their repute would be at stake. He added the paper provided by the PTB to the publishers would also carry watermark of the board so that no one could use low quality paper.
Source: The News International
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Four schools to be made centres of excellence
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE Punjab School Education Department has identified four schools of the provincial metropolis to upgrade these to centres of excellence under the scheme of model schools.The schools, which would be converted into centres of excellence include Government Central Model School, Lower Mall, Government High School for Boys, Ghoray Shah, Government Comprehensive High School for Girls, Wahdat Road and Government Girls High School, Samanabad.The scheme of converting selected government schools into model schools was introduced by the government in the recent budget while Rs 3,630 million was also allocated in this regard for the Fiscal Year 2008-09. It was also announced that 72 schools would also be provided with dormitories. An official of the School Education Department said a total of 288 schools would be converted into centres of excellence provincewide, adding gender parity would also be kept in view in this process. He added that 144 schools had been included in the scheme in the first phase.He said the department initially had identified four schools from the provincial metropolis while one each at district and tehsil headquarter level all across Punjab to convert these into centres of excellence.He further said the major component of a centre of excellence would include best infrastructure facilities, science labs, IT labs, libraries and dormitories. He said that the department identified schools, which had matched the necessary requirements in this regard including reasonable area of land and good number of students and other.The official said the programme of establishing centres of excellence was basically aimed at restoring lost confidence of the masses in the government schools. He said, “There is a feeling that people prefer to send their children to private schools instead of public sector schools,” adding, “In such circumstances, there is a dire need of taking drastic measures to improve the quality of education being imparted at the government schools.” He said establishment of centres of excellence would also promote a sense of competition between the public schools and the private schools, adding unfortunately at present the government schools were almost out of this competition. Sources however further informed that the department was also considering a proposal to award status of autonomous institutions to the would-be centres of excellence, adding in this case, each model school will have a board of governors (BoG).When contacted, Secretary School Education Department Nadeem Ashraf said PC-1 regarding centres of excellence had been sent to the Planning and Development (P&D) department for approval, adding that best faculty and facilities would be provided at these institutions.He further said that e-libraries would also be introduced in these schools for maximum exposure of students to the computer technology.He added that special halls and rooms would also be constructed in the centres of excellence to organise extra curricular activities. Replying to a question, he said the autonomy of the selected schools was also being discussed these days, adding however, any final decision in this regard would be taken after thorough deliberations. He added the first phase would be completed by June 2009.
Source: The News International
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
LAHORE: THE Punjab School Education Department has identified four schools of the provincial metropolis to upgrade these to centres of excellence under the scheme of model schools.The schools, which would be converted into centres of excellence include Government Central Model School, Lower Mall, Government High School for Boys, Ghoray Shah, Government Comprehensive High School for Girls, Wahdat Road and Government Girls High School, Samanabad.The scheme of converting selected government schools into model schools was introduced by the government in the recent budget while Rs 3,630 million was also allocated in this regard for the Fiscal Year 2008-09. It was also announced that 72 schools would also be provided with dormitories. An official of the School Education Department said a total of 288 schools would be converted into centres of excellence provincewide, adding gender parity would also be kept in view in this process. He added that 144 schools had been included in the scheme in the first phase.He said the department initially had identified four schools from the provincial metropolis while one each at district and tehsil headquarter level all across Punjab to convert these into centres of excellence.He further said the major component of a centre of excellence would include best infrastructure facilities, science labs, IT labs, libraries and dormitories. He said that the department identified schools, which had matched the necessary requirements in this regard including reasonable area of land and good number of students and other.The official said the programme of establishing centres of excellence was basically aimed at restoring lost confidence of the masses in the government schools. He said, “There is a feeling that people prefer to send their children to private schools instead of public sector schools,” adding, “In such circumstances, there is a dire need of taking drastic measures to improve the quality of education being imparted at the government schools.” He said establishment of centres of excellence would also promote a sense of competition between the public schools and the private schools, adding unfortunately at present the government schools were almost out of this competition. Sources however further informed that the department was also considering a proposal to award status of autonomous institutions to the would-be centres of excellence, adding in this case, each model school will have a board of governors (BoG).When contacted, Secretary School Education Department Nadeem Ashraf said PC-1 regarding centres of excellence had been sent to the Planning and Development (P&D) department for approval, adding that best faculty and facilities would be provided at these institutions.He further said that e-libraries would also be introduced in these schools for maximum exposure of students to the computer technology.He added that special halls and rooms would also be constructed in the centres of excellence to organise extra curricular activities. Replying to a question, he said the autonomy of the selected schools was also being discussed these days, adding however, any final decision in this regard would be taken after thorough deliberations. He added the first phase would be completed by June 2009.
Source: The News International
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
GCU directed to reinstate students
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE PUNJAB government has directed the Government College University (GCU) administration to reinstate the expelled students who had earlier been nominated in FIR for staging a protest demonstration a couple of days ago.The government has also ensured to get withdrawn the FIR against nine GCU students through proper channel. The Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan held a meeting with the GCU students, who had been nominated in the FIR, their parents and varsity registrar in his Punjab Assembly office on Saturday.Senior police officials, the investigation officer of the case and officials of Higher Education Department Punjab were also present on the occasion.The parents of the students expressed strong concerns over expulsion of students and demanded their reinstatement so that they might continue their studies at the university. They said the varsity administration earlier took an unfair and unjust decision by getting registered a case against these students under Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) and now the university had expelled them. Upon this the Law Minister expressed strong annoyance saying the act was like “adding fuel to the fire” on part of university administration, it is learnt. He directed the GCU registrar, Sahibzada Faisal Khurshid, to reinstate the expelled students so that they might join the university from Monday.It is further learnt the Law Minister told the GCU registrar “Your act (of expelling the students) has worsen the situation as the varsity administration as well as the government has been facing severe criticism from public after registration of the cases against protesting students under ATA”.Rana Sanaullah asked the registrar to get the expelled students reinstated immediately while he also ensured the worried parents that the government would ensure to get the FIR quashed against their children through proper channel.It may be mentioned here that a large number of GCU students had protested against the university administration on October 28 following the university administration struck off more than 200 students on charges of short attendance.Afterwards on complaint of GCU registrar the local police had registered a case against protesting students under the ATA. Two GCU students Haroon Mahmood and Usman Latif were arrested in a midnight raid and were produced before the Anti Terrorism Court and later were sent to jail as they were charged with section 7 Anti Terrorism Act (ATA). However both the students were released on Friday as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Sayed Zahid Hussain took suo moto notice of the students’ plight after it was reported in the Press that two students had been sent to jail by an Anti-Terrorism Court.Interestingly during the Saturday’s meeting a controversy erupted over registration of FIR as both, the university official and police, denied responsibility for registration of case under the Anti Terrorism Act. The police officials claimed the FIR was registered on complaint of GCU registrar while Sahibzada Faisal Khurshid claimed he had simply complained about the incident. Talking to The News Muhammad Latif father of Usman Latif said he was quite worried about the future of his son saying on October 28 an FIR was registered against his son while on October 30 the university expelled Usman. He said the Law Minister had assured the parents that all the expelled students would be reinstated while FIR would also be withdrawn. When contacted Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said misunderstanding between GCU administration and students had been removed adding that the university administration had also been asked to reinstate the expelled students.He said after representation to the university administration the expelled students would be reinstated adding FIR against students would also be got withdrawn through proper channel.Akmal one of the students said, students was really grateful to the Punjab government which had intervened to address their grievances.
Source: The News International
Sunday, November 02, 2008
LAHORE: THE PUNJAB government has directed the Government College University (GCU) administration to reinstate the expelled students who had earlier been nominated in FIR for staging a protest demonstration a couple of days ago.The government has also ensured to get withdrawn the FIR against nine GCU students through proper channel. The Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan held a meeting with the GCU students, who had been nominated in the FIR, their parents and varsity registrar in his Punjab Assembly office on Saturday.Senior police officials, the investigation officer of the case and officials of Higher Education Department Punjab were also present on the occasion.The parents of the students expressed strong concerns over expulsion of students and demanded their reinstatement so that they might continue their studies at the university. They said the varsity administration earlier took an unfair and unjust decision by getting registered a case against these students under Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) and now the university had expelled them. Upon this the Law Minister expressed strong annoyance saying the act was like “adding fuel to the fire” on part of university administration, it is learnt. He directed the GCU registrar, Sahibzada Faisal Khurshid, to reinstate the expelled students so that they might join the university from Monday.It is further learnt the Law Minister told the GCU registrar “Your act (of expelling the students) has worsen the situation as the varsity administration as well as the government has been facing severe criticism from public after registration of the cases against protesting students under ATA”.Rana Sanaullah asked the registrar to get the expelled students reinstated immediately while he also ensured the worried parents that the government would ensure to get the FIR quashed against their children through proper channel.It may be mentioned here that a large number of GCU students had protested against the university administration on October 28 following the university administration struck off more than 200 students on charges of short attendance.Afterwards on complaint of GCU registrar the local police had registered a case against protesting students under the ATA. Two GCU students Haroon Mahmood and Usman Latif were arrested in a midnight raid and were produced before the Anti Terrorism Court and later were sent to jail as they were charged with section 7 Anti Terrorism Act (ATA). However both the students were released on Friday as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Sayed Zahid Hussain took suo moto notice of the students’ plight after it was reported in the Press that two students had been sent to jail by an Anti-Terrorism Court.Interestingly during the Saturday’s meeting a controversy erupted over registration of FIR as both, the university official and police, denied responsibility for registration of case under the Anti Terrorism Act. The police officials claimed the FIR was registered on complaint of GCU registrar while Sahibzada Faisal Khurshid claimed he had simply complained about the incident. Talking to The News Muhammad Latif father of Usman Latif said he was quite worried about the future of his son saying on October 28 an FIR was registered against his son while on October 30 the university expelled Usman. He said the Law Minister had assured the parents that all the expelled students would be reinstated while FIR would also be withdrawn. When contacted Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said misunderstanding between GCU administration and students had been removed adding that the university administration had also been asked to reinstate the expelled students.He said after representation to the university administration the expelled students would be reinstated adding FIR against students would also be got withdrawn through proper channel.Akmal one of the students said, students was really grateful to the Punjab government which had intervened to address their grievances.
Source: The News International
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Education declining standard
By Khalid Khattak
AN ANALYSIS of results of intermediate and bachelor’s degree exams announced recently exposes the deteriorating standard of arts education as the pass percentage of science students is higher than those learning the humanities.Interestingly, the number of students attempting exams in humanities is much higher than that of science subjects. According to the intermediate results announced by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Lahore, the total number of candidates who appeared in pre-medical and pre-engineering groups was 9,900 out of which 7,601 remained successful at a percentage of 76.78.On the other hand, 64,066 candidates appeared in the humanities and other groups and only 25,600 passed the exam at an overall pass percentage of 39.96. Similarly, the results of BA/BSc annual exam announced by the Punjab University (PU) this year show poor performance of social sciences students. According to details, this year 151,932 candidates had appeared in the PU’s BA examination, out of which only 34,010 could get through the exam at a percentage of 22.39. Whereas 18,418 students had appeared in the BSc exam and 7,339 got successful at 39.85 pass percentage.The statistical analysis also brings to light the poor performance of most of the government colleges as far as results of arts-education are concerned. The results also show that the performance of arts students in the subject of English is poorer than those studying sciences.The academic circles are very critical of deteriorating standard of arts education. They say study of the social sciences should also be encouraged because they are as important as the sciences. They believe that lack of commitment on part of teachers and students is one of the contributing factors for poor results.It is generally observed that most of the science students join private tuition centres and academies where they pay subjectwise fees. On an average, an academy charges Rs 800 to Rs 1,500 per month for each science subject. Keeping in view mushroom growth of coaching centres and inclination of students and their parents towards such “knowledge-houses”, it can be said without any doubt that they play a major role in enhancing the performance of students during exams. Educationists and academicians also believe that the increasing tuition-culture is evidence of the fact that public sector colleges are not fulfilling their responsibilities owing to which students have to rely on private coaching for securing good grades in exams.It is yet another reality that most of the public school/college teachers who teach science subjects are running their own tuition centres which are also attended by their college’s students, privately. Academic circles are of the view that the government should take notice of the increasing trend and it should make all-out efforts to provide quality education to the students at public sector schools and colleges. They also stress the need of encouraging teachers to deliver the best with commitment and dedication.
Source: The News International
Monday, August 25, 2008
AN ANALYSIS of results of intermediate and bachelor’s degree exams announced recently exposes the deteriorating standard of arts education as the pass percentage of science students is higher than those learning the humanities.Interestingly, the number of students attempting exams in humanities is much higher than that of science subjects. According to the intermediate results announced by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Lahore, the total number of candidates who appeared in pre-medical and pre-engineering groups was 9,900 out of which 7,601 remained successful at a percentage of 76.78.On the other hand, 64,066 candidates appeared in the humanities and other groups and only 25,600 passed the exam at an overall pass percentage of 39.96. Similarly, the results of BA/BSc annual exam announced by the Punjab University (PU) this year show poor performance of social sciences students. According to details, this year 151,932 candidates had appeared in the PU’s BA examination, out of which only 34,010 could get through the exam at a percentage of 22.39. Whereas 18,418 students had appeared in the BSc exam and 7,339 got successful at 39.85 pass percentage.The statistical analysis also brings to light the poor performance of most of the government colleges as far as results of arts-education are concerned. The results also show that the performance of arts students in the subject of English is poorer than those studying sciences.The academic circles are very critical of deteriorating standard of arts education. They say study of the social sciences should also be encouraged because they are as important as the sciences. They believe that lack of commitment on part of teachers and students is one of the contributing factors for poor results.It is generally observed that most of the science students join private tuition centres and academies where they pay subjectwise fees. On an average, an academy charges Rs 800 to Rs 1,500 per month for each science subject. Keeping in view mushroom growth of coaching centres and inclination of students and their parents towards such “knowledge-houses”, it can be said without any doubt that they play a major role in enhancing the performance of students during exams. Educationists and academicians also believe that the increasing tuition-culture is evidence of the fact that public sector colleges are not fulfilling their responsibilities owing to which students have to rely on private coaching for securing good grades in exams.It is yet another reality that most of the public school/college teachers who teach science subjects are running their own tuition centres which are also attended by their college’s students, privately. Academic circles are of the view that the government should take notice of the increasing trend and it should make all-out efforts to provide quality education to the students at public sector schools and colleges. They also stress the need of encouraging teachers to deliver the best with commitment and dedication.
Source: The News International
Monday, August 25, 2008
Govt colleges show extremely poor results
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: Most of the government colleges of the provincial metropolis showed extremely poor results in the BA/BSc annual examination 2008 exposing the deteriorating standard of education and lack of commitment on part of students and teachers.According to the statistical analysis issued by the Punjab University, as many as 81 candidates appeared in the BA exam from Govt Islamia College Railway Road out of which only 5 could pass the exam with a pass percentage of 6.17. As many as 49 candidates from the same college appeared in the BSc exam while only 12 of them were declared successful with a pass percentage of 24.49. The pass percentage of Govt College Ravi Road, Shahdara in BA remained only 6.67 as just one candidate out of 15 who appeared in the exam, was declared successful. In the BSc, the college produced 25 percent result as one out of four students passed the exam.Only three students of Govt Degree College for Boys Raiwind out of 26 passed the BA exam while overall pass percentage of the college remained 11.54. A total of 24 students appeared in the BA exam from Govt Dyal Singh College out of which only 2 were declared successful with a pass percentage of 8.33. In BSc, the college produced 21.05 percent result as 4 out of 19 students could pass the exam. Govt Degree College for Boys Model Town also produced poor results in BA and BSc as pass percentage of both the exams remained 10.34 and 9.09 respectively. About 29 students appeared in BA out of which 3 passed while 11 had appeared in BSc out of which only one was declared successful.As many as 262 candidates had appeared in BA exam from Govt MAO College out of which only 51 graduated with 19.47 as pass percentage. In the BSc exam the college produced 23.48 percent result as 27 candidates out of 115 appeared had passed the exam.The performance of Govt Shalimar College Baghbanpura was also not so encouraging as in BA the college produced 18.28 percent results while in BSc the pass percentage was 29.51. Govt College Township produced only 19.23 percent results in BA exam while in BSc the result was 43.59 percent. Govt College of Science Wahdat Road produced 23.26 percent results in BA exam while in the BSc the college’s result is 32.54 percent.Some of the government colleges which produced relatively better results include Govt Queen Mary College (BA 76.56 percent and BSc 86.98 percent), Govt College for Women Gulberg (BA 55.42 percent and BSc 77.94 percent), Govt College for Women Baghbanpura (BA 36.94 percent and BSc 74.70 percent), Govt Fatima Jinnah College for Women Chuna Mandi (BA 56.91 percent and BSc 78.48 percent) and Govt College for Women Samanabad (BA 38.88 percent and BSc 71.43 percent) etc.
Source: The News International
August 24, 2008.
LAHORE: Most of the government colleges of the provincial metropolis showed extremely poor results in the BA/BSc annual examination 2008 exposing the deteriorating standard of education and lack of commitment on part of students and teachers.According to the statistical analysis issued by the Punjab University, as many as 81 candidates appeared in the BA exam from Govt Islamia College Railway Road out of which only 5 could pass the exam with a pass percentage of 6.17. As many as 49 candidates from the same college appeared in the BSc exam while only 12 of them were declared successful with a pass percentage of 24.49. The pass percentage of Govt College Ravi Road, Shahdara in BA remained only 6.67 as just one candidate out of 15 who appeared in the exam, was declared successful. In the BSc, the college produced 25 percent result as one out of four students passed the exam.Only three students of Govt Degree College for Boys Raiwind out of 26 passed the BA exam while overall pass percentage of the college remained 11.54. A total of 24 students appeared in the BA exam from Govt Dyal Singh College out of which only 2 were declared successful with a pass percentage of 8.33. In BSc, the college produced 21.05 percent result as 4 out of 19 students could pass the exam. Govt Degree College for Boys Model Town also produced poor results in BA and BSc as pass percentage of both the exams remained 10.34 and 9.09 respectively. About 29 students appeared in BA out of which 3 passed while 11 had appeared in BSc out of which only one was declared successful.As many as 262 candidates had appeared in BA exam from Govt MAO College out of which only 51 graduated with 19.47 as pass percentage. In the BSc exam the college produced 23.48 percent result as 27 candidates out of 115 appeared had passed the exam.The performance of Govt Shalimar College Baghbanpura was also not so encouraging as in BA the college produced 18.28 percent results while in BSc the pass percentage was 29.51. Govt College Township produced only 19.23 percent results in BA exam while in BSc the result was 43.59 percent. Govt College of Science Wahdat Road produced 23.26 percent results in BA exam while in the BSc the college’s result is 32.54 percent.Some of the government colleges which produced relatively better results include Govt Queen Mary College (BA 76.56 percent and BSc 86.98 percent), Govt College for Women Gulberg (BA 55.42 percent and BSc 77.94 percent), Govt College for Women Baghbanpura (BA 36.94 percent and BSc 74.70 percent), Govt Fatima Jinnah College for Women Chuna Mandi (BA 56.91 percent and BSc 78.48 percent) and Govt College for Women Samanabad (BA 38.88 percent and BSc 71.43 percent) etc.
Source: The News International
August 24, 2008.
Govt schools performance poor
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE 2008 annual Matriculation examination results have exposed the performance of government schools as private schools students have clinched almost all top positions.Noman Khadam, student of a private school, National Model High School Hiran Minar Road, Sheikhupura, secured the over all top position. Muhammad Awais and Hafiz Muhammad Saleem who shared the overall second position respectively also studied at a private school, Pakistan Model High School for Boys Raiwind Road, Kasur. Hafiz Furqan Malik of Government High School Shahdara, however, was the only government school student who stood third. Interestingly, science group (boys and girls) and humanities group (boys and girls) students who topped the examination studied at private schools. Among science group students (boys), Noman Khadam of the National Model High School Sheikhupura stood first, Muhammad Awais and Hafiz Muhammad Saleem of the Pakistan Model High School for Boys, Kasur, stood second and Hafiz Furqan Malik of the Government High School, Shahdara, stood third. Among girls, Ifra Rafaqat of Divisional Public High School for Girls, Model Town, stood first, Izzah Javed of St Domainics Convent Girls High School, Johar Town, and Anam Tanveer of Kasur Public School for Girls, Kasur, shared the second position and Maryam Shahid and Hafsa Siddiqi who shared the third position were students of Aligarh Public High School for Girls, Gulberg, and Laurel Bank Public School for Girls, Baghbanpura. Among humanities group students (boys), Azeemullah of Dar ul Uloom Islamia Boys, Allama Iqbal Town, stood first, Muhammad Zohaib Shafi of Stars Boys High School, GT Road Shahdara, stood second and Hafiz Shahzad Ali of the Pakistan Model High School for Boys, Kasur, stood third.Ayesha Nadeem Butt, Sharish Ghulam Rasool and Hifza Qasim who secured first, second and third positions in humanities group (girls) studied at Farooqi Girls High School Ravi Road, Lahore.Talking to The News, people said it was unfortunate that the standard of education being imparted by government schools was deteriorating.“Instead of competing against private schools, most of the public schools are performing poorly,” commented Sohaib, a citizen. “One could gauge the performance of public schools by the fact that only one government school student was among those who topped this year,” he said. He regretted that despite huge education budget, teacher training programmes and incentives such as free textbooks, students of government-run schools could not make their mark.Kashif, another citizen, said it seemed that government school teachers were not motivated. He said that there was a time when students of government schools topped matriculation examination.When contacted, School Education Secretary Nadeem Ashraf said that though the government schools could not produce more toppers this time, their overall result was better. He said unlike government schools, the management of private schools pay more attention to students. “They (private schools) usually select some brilliant students and focus on them,” he said. Nadeem Ashraf said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had recently approved a performance-based incentive allowance for government schoolteachers adding their promotions had also been linked to performance. He expressed hope that government schools would produce more toppers in coming years.
Source: The News International
Saturday, August 02, 2008
LAHORE: THE 2008 annual Matriculation examination results have exposed the performance of government schools as private schools students have clinched almost all top positions.Noman Khadam, student of a private school, National Model High School Hiran Minar Road, Sheikhupura, secured the over all top position. Muhammad Awais and Hafiz Muhammad Saleem who shared the overall second position respectively also studied at a private school, Pakistan Model High School for Boys Raiwind Road, Kasur. Hafiz Furqan Malik of Government High School Shahdara, however, was the only government school student who stood third. Interestingly, science group (boys and girls) and humanities group (boys and girls) students who topped the examination studied at private schools. Among science group students (boys), Noman Khadam of the National Model High School Sheikhupura stood first, Muhammad Awais and Hafiz Muhammad Saleem of the Pakistan Model High School for Boys, Kasur, stood second and Hafiz Furqan Malik of the Government High School, Shahdara, stood third. Among girls, Ifra Rafaqat of Divisional Public High School for Girls, Model Town, stood first, Izzah Javed of St Domainics Convent Girls High School, Johar Town, and Anam Tanveer of Kasur Public School for Girls, Kasur, shared the second position and Maryam Shahid and Hafsa Siddiqi who shared the third position were students of Aligarh Public High School for Girls, Gulberg, and Laurel Bank Public School for Girls, Baghbanpura. Among humanities group students (boys), Azeemullah of Dar ul Uloom Islamia Boys, Allama Iqbal Town, stood first, Muhammad Zohaib Shafi of Stars Boys High School, GT Road Shahdara, stood second and Hafiz Shahzad Ali of the Pakistan Model High School for Boys, Kasur, stood third.Ayesha Nadeem Butt, Sharish Ghulam Rasool and Hifza Qasim who secured first, second and third positions in humanities group (girls) studied at Farooqi Girls High School Ravi Road, Lahore.Talking to The News, people said it was unfortunate that the standard of education being imparted by government schools was deteriorating.“Instead of competing against private schools, most of the public schools are performing poorly,” commented Sohaib, a citizen. “One could gauge the performance of public schools by the fact that only one government school student was among those who topped this year,” he said. He regretted that despite huge education budget, teacher training programmes and incentives such as free textbooks, students of government-run schools could not make their mark.Kashif, another citizen, said it seemed that government school teachers were not motivated. He said that there was a time when students of government schools topped matriculation examination.When contacted, School Education Secretary Nadeem Ashraf said that though the government schools could not produce more toppers this time, their overall result was better. He said unlike government schools, the management of private schools pay more attention to students. “They (private schools) usually select some brilliant students and focus on them,” he said. Nadeem Ashraf said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had recently approved a performance-based incentive allowance for government schoolteachers adding their promotions had also been linked to performance. He expressed hope that government schools would produce more toppers in coming years.
Source: The News International
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Key education officials enjoy lucrative posts on deputation
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The award of extension in deputation period seems to be hallmark of the previous government as it allowed many individuals, especially in the education boards of the province, to continue enjoying postings on lucrative posts for many years through extension in the deputation tenure.Most of the officials had been awarded extension in the deputation period more than once, making others realise as if there were no substitutes available to hold key-offices such as of Chairman, Secretary and Controller of Examinations of the boards. However, it is generally believed that only individuals having connections with the power corridors were appointed against such well-paid posts.Talking to The News, a senior official of the Higher Education Department, Punjab, on the condition of anonymity said postings during the previous regime against such slots was made “purely” on political grounds, adding in most of the cases those who had been granted extension in deputation period were not even recommended by the department. He further said, as per the deputation policy, initially an official was appointed on deputation for a period of three years, adding one year extension was granted through the Finance Department. “The grant of any further extension is prerogative of the Chief Minister”, the official added.He maintained that the policy of extending deputation tenure was blindly followed by the previous government, adding despite the fact it created troubles for those awaiting promotions. The official said the extension-policy was widely condemned by the other aspirant candidates but of no avail. According to the data obtained by The News, the officials who were granted extension in the deputation tenure more than once include Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (BISE) Lahore Haji Muhammad Dogar who has been holding the office since July 28, 2003. His deputation tenure had expired after three years. Later, he was awarded one year extension while he also succeeded to “win” another extension of next two years. Similarly, BISE Lahore’s Controller of Examinations Prof Manzur ul Hassan Niazi, who was awarded extension in deputation, has been holding the office since October 28, 2004.Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Bahawalpur chairperson Mrs Bilqees Akram has been serving since January 19, 2004, while board’s Secretary Waheed Akhtar Nayyar and Controller of Examinations Bashir Ahmed have been enjoying lucrative posts since October 19, 2002 and September 25, 2004 respectively. Chairman of the BISE Dera Ghazi Khan Mehr Bashir Ahmed has been serving on deputation since September 3, 2004.It is important to mention here that the new government has not awarded any extension to the Chairman Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Sargodha Dr Muhammad Afzal Rabbani whose deputation period expired on June 28, 2008. The department has recently interviewed a number of potential candidates to fill the vacant post. However, no appointment has been made so far. The senior officials of the boards whose tenure would expire in the near future include Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Bahawalpur (date of expiry of deputation September 30, 2008), Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Dera Ghazi Khan Aezaz Ahmed Khan (December 04, 2008) and Chairman BISE Faisalabad Anwar ul Haq (February 12, 2009). It is further learnt that the government has decided in principle not to extend tenure of those serving on deputation. A couple of months ago, the Punjab government cancelled hundreds of appointments made on the re-employment policy. The policy was also excessively followed by the previous regime through which hundreds of retired officials were re-employed against well-paid posts.
Source: The News International
Wednesday, July 16, 2008.
LAHORE: The award of extension in deputation period seems to be hallmark of the previous government as it allowed many individuals, especially in the education boards of the province, to continue enjoying postings on lucrative posts for many years through extension in the deputation tenure.Most of the officials had been awarded extension in the deputation period more than once, making others realise as if there were no substitutes available to hold key-offices such as of Chairman, Secretary and Controller of Examinations of the boards. However, it is generally believed that only individuals having connections with the power corridors were appointed against such well-paid posts.Talking to The News, a senior official of the Higher Education Department, Punjab, on the condition of anonymity said postings during the previous regime against such slots was made “purely” on political grounds, adding in most of the cases those who had been granted extension in deputation period were not even recommended by the department. He further said, as per the deputation policy, initially an official was appointed on deputation for a period of three years, adding one year extension was granted through the Finance Department. “The grant of any further extension is prerogative of the Chief Minister”, the official added.He maintained that the policy of extending deputation tenure was blindly followed by the previous government, adding despite the fact it created troubles for those awaiting promotions. The official said the extension-policy was widely condemned by the other aspirant candidates but of no avail. According to the data obtained by The News, the officials who were granted extension in the deputation tenure more than once include Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (BISE) Lahore Haji Muhammad Dogar who has been holding the office since July 28, 2003. His deputation tenure had expired after three years. Later, he was awarded one year extension while he also succeeded to “win” another extension of next two years. Similarly, BISE Lahore’s Controller of Examinations Prof Manzur ul Hassan Niazi, who was awarded extension in deputation, has been holding the office since October 28, 2004.Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Bahawalpur chairperson Mrs Bilqees Akram has been serving since January 19, 2004, while board’s Secretary Waheed Akhtar Nayyar and Controller of Examinations Bashir Ahmed have been enjoying lucrative posts since October 19, 2002 and September 25, 2004 respectively. Chairman of the BISE Dera Ghazi Khan Mehr Bashir Ahmed has been serving on deputation since September 3, 2004.It is important to mention here that the new government has not awarded any extension to the Chairman Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Sargodha Dr Muhammad Afzal Rabbani whose deputation period expired on June 28, 2008. The department has recently interviewed a number of potential candidates to fill the vacant post. However, no appointment has been made so far. The senior officials of the boards whose tenure would expire in the near future include Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Bahawalpur (date of expiry of deputation September 30, 2008), Secretary Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Dera Ghazi Khan Aezaz Ahmed Khan (December 04, 2008) and Chairman BISE Faisalabad Anwar ul Haq (February 12, 2009). It is further learnt that the government has decided in principle not to extend tenure of those serving on deputation. A couple of months ago, the Punjab government cancelled hundreds of appointments made on the re-employment policy. The policy was also excessively followed by the previous regime through which hundreds of retired officials were re-employed against well-paid posts.
Source: The News International
Wednesday, July 16, 2008.
Monday, July 7, 2008
21 government schools in Lahore non-functional
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: AS many as 21 government schools in District Lahore have been non-functional for the last many months, exposing lack of interest and commitment on part of officials concerned.Sources in the Punjab School Education Department told The News that reports recently submitted by Monitoring and Evaluation Assistants (MEAs) of the Chief Minister’s Monitoring Force disclosed that there were dozens of non-functional schools in each district of the province. The sources added most of these schools stopped functioning during previous regime because of acute shortage of schoolteachers. They said some single-teacher schools and shelter-less schools have also become non-functional with the passage of time in different parts of the province. They said in some cases, there were schools but interestingly there were no students. A number of schools became non-functional after migration of locals from a particular area in the wake of expanding residential societies, they added.It is learnt that non-availability of buildings and illegal occupations were also the main causes behind non-functional schools.A senior official commenting over the issue said the government schools could never become non-functional unless the officials concerned pay constant attention in connection with the affairs of the school. He further said shortage of teachers could be overcome by rationalising the number of teachers working in schools of neighbouring areas, adding that it was responsibility of EDOs to take timely action against the illegal occupants. “The problems multiply when the concerned shut their eyes and not make efforts to solve the problems,” he added.The sources said that Secretary School Education Department, Nadeem Ashraf, while taking notice of the situation issued strict instructions to the Education EDOs across the province to explain reasons for non-functioning of schools in their respective districts. He had also directed the EDOs to make all-out efforts to make the non-functioning schools functioning ones soon after the annual summer vacation, they added. It is also learnt that the issue regarding non-functional schools would be taken up in meeting of Secretary Schools with Education EDOs on 7 July.An official from the office of Lahore Education EDO, seeking anonymity, said most of the non-functional schools of the District Lahore were in the areas of Aziz Bhatti Town and Wahga Town.He said expanding residential societies were major factors behind the schools going non-functional. “In such cases, locals migrated to other areas owing to which schools are left without any students,” he added. When contacted, Secretary School Education Department, Nadeem Ashraf, confirmed that the matter regarding non-functional schools would be taken up in the meeting scheduled for July 7.He said rationalisation of teaching staff in government schools was underway in order to engage surplus staff in schools, which were facing acute shortage of teachers.
Source: The News International
Saturday, July 05, 2008
LAHORE: AS many as 21 government schools in District Lahore have been non-functional for the last many months, exposing lack of interest and commitment on part of officials concerned.Sources in the Punjab School Education Department told The News that reports recently submitted by Monitoring and Evaluation Assistants (MEAs) of the Chief Minister’s Monitoring Force disclosed that there were dozens of non-functional schools in each district of the province. The sources added most of these schools stopped functioning during previous regime because of acute shortage of schoolteachers. They said some single-teacher schools and shelter-less schools have also become non-functional with the passage of time in different parts of the province. They said in some cases, there were schools but interestingly there were no students. A number of schools became non-functional after migration of locals from a particular area in the wake of expanding residential societies, they added.It is learnt that non-availability of buildings and illegal occupations were also the main causes behind non-functional schools.A senior official commenting over the issue said the government schools could never become non-functional unless the officials concerned pay constant attention in connection with the affairs of the school. He further said shortage of teachers could be overcome by rationalising the number of teachers working in schools of neighbouring areas, adding that it was responsibility of EDOs to take timely action against the illegal occupants. “The problems multiply when the concerned shut their eyes and not make efforts to solve the problems,” he added.The sources said that Secretary School Education Department, Nadeem Ashraf, while taking notice of the situation issued strict instructions to the Education EDOs across the province to explain reasons for non-functioning of schools in their respective districts. He had also directed the EDOs to make all-out efforts to make the non-functioning schools functioning ones soon after the annual summer vacation, they added. It is also learnt that the issue regarding non-functional schools would be taken up in meeting of Secretary Schools with Education EDOs on 7 July.An official from the office of Lahore Education EDO, seeking anonymity, said most of the non-functional schools of the District Lahore were in the areas of Aziz Bhatti Town and Wahga Town.He said expanding residential societies were major factors behind the schools going non-functional. “In such cases, locals migrated to other areas owing to which schools are left without any students,” he added. When contacted, Secretary School Education Department, Nadeem Ashraf, confirmed that the matter regarding non-functional schools would be taken up in the meeting scheduled for July 7.He said rationalisation of teaching staff in government schools was underway in order to engage surplus staff in schools, which were facing acute shortage of teachers.
Source: The News International
Saturday, July 05, 2008
PU asks SUPARCO to vacate varsity land
Says commission failed to meet terms and conditions
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: A CONTROVERSY has once again erupted over lease agreement between the Punjab University (PU) and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) while the former has also sent a legal notice asking the Commission to vacate its (university’s) land.The Punjab University had leased out 12 acres of land for 20 years to SUPARCO for setting up facilities for satellite tracking, space application and research on March 17, 1987. However, a controversy had erupted in 2006, before expiry of the lease, when the PU authorities expressed unwillingness to renew the lease agreement because of SUPARCO’s alleged failure to meet certain terms and conditions. PU officials had alleged that the management of SUPARCO had not met the terms and conditions as it did not properly assist the university in teaching and practical training of its students and supervising research work of students. On the other hand, SUPARCO had maintained that it had not only fulfilled all its obligations under the deed, but had also provided the university with services and material support that had been totally outside the scope of this deed.Nonetheless, akistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission later requested for provision of additional 50 acres land while the PU asked the Commission to hand over the 12 acres of land along with the structure constructed on it to the university as per the lease agreement, which expired on March 17, 2007.The matter regarding request of the additional land was placed before the university Syndicate in a meeting held on September 11, 2006, and was rejected unanimously by members.However, in its meeting held on May 18, 2007, the PU Syndicate approved the renewal of the lease agreement (excluding the additional land) with SUPARCO for ten years with revised terms and conditions.It was also decided by the Syndicate that all contracts would be subject for reconsideration after every two years while PU would also charge akistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission per-acre agriculture rate with ten percent annual increase. According to PU officials, as per the 1987 agreement, the Commission was paying Rs 10,000 as annual rent to the university against the total leased land.The officials added that according to the revised agreement of 2007, SUPARCO had to pay Rs 17,600 per acre per annum with 10 per increase each year.They said it was decided that SUPARCO would help improve laboratories of the varsity and provide training and apprenticeships to it students of space science and physics etc, too.However, sources in the PU administration said that akistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission authorities were reluctant to sign the agreement with revised terms and conditions, adding they were insisting to sign the agreement as continuation of 1987 agreement. “This is quite evident from the fact that the agreement was yet to be signed despite approval in this regard was granted by Syndicate in May 2007”, they added.They further said that soon after the legal notice was served by the PU administration, the akistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission contacted the chancellor to intervene and to ask the university to ensure continuation of the 1987 agreement for further 10 years. It is further learnt reliably that the Chancellor Office subsequently asked the PU to review its 2007 agreement with SUPARCO and consider if 1987 agreement could be continued for further ten years.In this regard, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran was not available for comments. However, when contacted, Resident Officer-II (RO-II) Malik Muhammad Zaheer, whose office is dealing with the lease agreement, stated that the legal notice was served, as the university did not want to renew and extend the agreement. He added that it was the right of the university to get back its land.“SUPARCO has started construction work on PU land despite the fact that the 2007 agreement, was not signed as yet,” he said.He added that, “It should handover the 12 acres of land along with the structure on it to the university as per the lease agreement of 1987.” Replying to a question, he said the Chancellor Office had asked the PU to review the situation; however, the matter would be placed before the PU Syndicate for final decision in this regard.
Source: The News International
Monday, June 30, 2008
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: A CONTROVERSY has once again erupted over lease agreement between the Punjab University (PU) and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) while the former has also sent a legal notice asking the Commission to vacate its (university’s) land.The Punjab University had leased out 12 acres of land for 20 years to SUPARCO for setting up facilities for satellite tracking, space application and research on March 17, 1987. However, a controversy had erupted in 2006, before expiry of the lease, when the PU authorities expressed unwillingness to renew the lease agreement because of SUPARCO’s alleged failure to meet certain terms and conditions. PU officials had alleged that the management of SUPARCO had not met the terms and conditions as it did not properly assist the university in teaching and practical training of its students and supervising research work of students. On the other hand, SUPARCO had maintained that it had not only fulfilled all its obligations under the deed, but had also provided the university with services and material support that had been totally outside the scope of this deed.Nonetheless, akistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission later requested for provision of additional 50 acres land while the PU asked the Commission to hand over the 12 acres of land along with the structure constructed on it to the university as per the lease agreement, which expired on March 17, 2007.The matter regarding request of the additional land was placed before the university Syndicate in a meeting held on September 11, 2006, and was rejected unanimously by members.However, in its meeting held on May 18, 2007, the PU Syndicate approved the renewal of the lease agreement (excluding the additional land) with SUPARCO for ten years with revised terms and conditions.It was also decided by the Syndicate that all contracts would be subject for reconsideration after every two years while PU would also charge akistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission per-acre agriculture rate with ten percent annual increase. According to PU officials, as per the 1987 agreement, the Commission was paying Rs 10,000 as annual rent to the university against the total leased land.The officials added that according to the revised agreement of 2007, SUPARCO had to pay Rs 17,600 per acre per annum with 10 per increase each year.They said it was decided that SUPARCO would help improve laboratories of the varsity and provide training and apprenticeships to it students of space science and physics etc, too.However, sources in the PU administration said that akistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission authorities were reluctant to sign the agreement with revised terms and conditions, adding they were insisting to sign the agreement as continuation of 1987 agreement. “This is quite evident from the fact that the agreement was yet to be signed despite approval in this regard was granted by Syndicate in May 2007”, they added.They further said that soon after the legal notice was served by the PU administration, the akistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission contacted the chancellor to intervene and to ask the university to ensure continuation of the 1987 agreement for further 10 years. It is further learnt reliably that the Chancellor Office subsequently asked the PU to review its 2007 agreement with SUPARCO and consider if 1987 agreement could be continued for further ten years.In this regard, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran was not available for comments. However, when contacted, Resident Officer-II (RO-II) Malik Muhammad Zaheer, whose office is dealing with the lease agreement, stated that the legal notice was served, as the university did not want to renew and extend the agreement. He added that it was the right of the university to get back its land.“SUPARCO has started construction work on PU land despite the fact that the 2007 agreement, was not signed as yet,” he said.He added that, “It should handover the 12 acres of land along with the structure on it to the university as per the lease agreement of 1987.” Replying to a question, he said the Chancellor Office had asked the PU to review the situation; however, the matter would be placed before the PU Syndicate for final decision in this regard.
Source: The News International
Monday, June 30, 2008
Unrest prevails at PU hostels
By Khalid Khattak
The presence of expelled and rusticated activists of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) at the Punjab University (PU) hostels has been a matter of great concern for the university students and teachers. Most of the activists were expelled or rusticated for beating students up, while others for organizing illegal activities on the campus and inside the hostels without permission from the PU administration. However, such elements continue to enjoy boarding facilities, in connivance with the hostel superintendents and wardens, creating troubles, especially for the boarding students belonging to other student organisations. The activists are not only a permanent nuisance for the boarding students, but also for the university administration which receives frequent complaints regarding their illegal activities. Last week, some JIT activists including Suleman, Allah Rakha and Muhammad Ramzan thrashed a student Ghulam Hussain who is an activist of a newly formed student organisation, the University Students Federation (USF), at Hostel No 2. The matter was brought to the notice of the administration but no action has been taken so far. The USF has been criticizing the administration for not taking any action against the Jamiat activists illegally residing at the varsity hostels.Ahsan Chaudhry, a USF activist, told The News that IJT activist Sabir Shah, who is an illegal boarder at the varsity’s Hostel No 15, threatened to hurt him. He said a number of other Jamiat activists, like Sabir, expelled or rusticated by the administration were illegally residing at the hostels, “It is strange that the administration is not taking any action”, he added.It is important to mention here that a number of rallies were taken out by students against the Jamiat for its involvement in Imran Khan’s arrest from the PU New Campus in November last year. Later, a number of students complained about threatening calls and messages they received from the IJT activists for taking part in the anti-Jamiat rallies. A number of developments took place afterwards in which the PU administration, under the leadership of the varsity’s vice-chancellor, closed down almost all the IJT offices from the university’s campus. However, no action was taken against the Jamiat at the hostels where it has had its offices for the last many. Talking to The News, a PU official, seeking anonymity, said many FIRs had been registered against some of the expelled Jamiat activists, but police failed to arrest them. He said the non-cooperation of police was causing a lot of problems for the administration, adding, “Even some teachers are receiving threatening calls from the Jamiat activists”. It is noteworthy that the non-cooperation of the police was also highlighted in a high level meeting chaired by the then Chancellor Lt Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool a couple of months ago. Another senior official said a grand operation would be launched soon against the Jamiat activists bordering illegally at the hostels. He said the only hurdle in carrying out the action was the on going examinations. “We do not want any disturbance at the campus when the exams are underway”, he said, adding “the Jamiat offices at the PU hostels would also be closed down.”
Source: The News International
Monday 7 July 2008
The presence of expelled and rusticated activists of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) at the Punjab University (PU) hostels has been a matter of great concern for the university students and teachers. Most of the activists were expelled or rusticated for beating students up, while others for organizing illegal activities on the campus and inside the hostels without permission from the PU administration. However, such elements continue to enjoy boarding facilities, in connivance with the hostel superintendents and wardens, creating troubles, especially for the boarding students belonging to other student organisations. The activists are not only a permanent nuisance for the boarding students, but also for the university administration which receives frequent complaints regarding their illegal activities. Last week, some JIT activists including Suleman, Allah Rakha and Muhammad Ramzan thrashed a student Ghulam Hussain who is an activist of a newly formed student organisation, the University Students Federation (USF), at Hostel No 2. The matter was brought to the notice of the administration but no action has been taken so far. The USF has been criticizing the administration for not taking any action against the Jamiat activists illegally residing at the varsity hostels.Ahsan Chaudhry, a USF activist, told The News that IJT activist Sabir Shah, who is an illegal boarder at the varsity’s Hostel No 15, threatened to hurt him. He said a number of other Jamiat activists, like Sabir, expelled or rusticated by the administration were illegally residing at the hostels, “It is strange that the administration is not taking any action”, he added.It is important to mention here that a number of rallies were taken out by students against the Jamiat for its involvement in Imran Khan’s arrest from the PU New Campus in November last year. Later, a number of students complained about threatening calls and messages they received from the IJT activists for taking part in the anti-Jamiat rallies. A number of developments took place afterwards in which the PU administration, under the leadership of the varsity’s vice-chancellor, closed down almost all the IJT offices from the university’s campus. However, no action was taken against the Jamiat at the hostels where it has had its offices for the last many. Talking to The News, a PU official, seeking anonymity, said many FIRs had been registered against some of the expelled Jamiat activists, but police failed to arrest them. He said the non-cooperation of police was causing a lot of problems for the administration, adding, “Even some teachers are receiving threatening calls from the Jamiat activists”. It is noteworthy that the non-cooperation of the police was also highlighted in a high level meeting chaired by the then Chancellor Lt Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool a couple of months ago. Another senior official said a grand operation would be launched soon against the Jamiat activists bordering illegally at the hostels. He said the only hurdle in carrying out the action was the on going examinations. “We do not want any disturbance at the campus when the exams are underway”, he said, adding “the Jamiat offices at the PU hostels would also be closed down.”
Source: The News International
Monday 7 July 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Computer education centres take advantage of post-exam season
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: TAKING full advantage of the post-examination season, different computer education centres as well as tuition centres have started offering short courses to attract maximum number of students who are now free after matriculation and intermediate examinations. The advertisement campaign by such institutes is also in full swing and, in this connection, special packages are being offered to the students. Different colourful banners, hoardings and posters can be seen in almost all localities of the provincial metropolis in this regard. Somewhere a short course in English language is being offered free of cost with a course in computer. Some institutes are offering short computer courses as free with other paid programme. Talking to The News, a number of students, their parents and people from different walks of life expressed mixed response to the prevailing trend of short courses offered for students in post-examination season. Some termed it a minting-money-season for computer centres and tuition centres while others termed it a healthy engagement for those who remain free after exams. A student, Ali, said he had joined a computer centre soon after his matriculation (composite) examination completed. He was of the view that he joined a short course in Computer Applications because he did not want to sit idle at home. “I have not studied computer as a subject”, he said adding “This is certainly a good time to learn something about computer”. No one can 
deny the importance of computer education, he said adding the course he opted would be helpful in his future life. Kashif Jamil, another student, said it was certainly a tough job to find a good and affordable institute for short course adding massive advertisements had almost confused him. Another student, Usman, said he had joined a computer centre adding he had also been offered English language course as an additional programme without any fee. He said post-exam season provided a good opportunity to students to learn things apart from their regular studies. He further said exam results would be announced after a couple of months adding it was better to utilize free-time instead of doing nothing. Naeem, another student, said instead of registering for any short course of computer or English language, he had joined an academy to study course of intermediate. He was of the view that students should prepare for next classes instead of wasting their precious time in short courses being offered these days. “I was a student of matriculation (science subjects) and had studied computer as a subject”, he said adding “I am confident of passing my matric exam, therefore, I am studying course of FSc Pre-Engineering these days”. Farrukh, father of a student, however, said it was unfortunate that most of the institutions were fleecing innocent students and their parents in the name of short courses. “Nothing practical is taught to the students”, he said adding “I am personally against such courses as this is merely a loss of time and money”.
deny the importance of computer education, he said adding the course he opted would be helpful in his future life. Kashif Jamil, another student, said it was certainly a tough job to find a good and affordable institute for short course adding massive advertisements had almost confused him. Another student, Usman, said he had joined a computer centre adding he had also been offered English language course as an additional programme without any fee. He said post-exam season provided a good opportunity to students to learn things apart from their regular studies. He further said exam results would be announced after a couple of months adding it was better to utilize free-time instead of doing nothing. Naeem, another student, said instead of registering for any short course of computer or English language, he had joined an academy to study course of intermediate. He was of the view that students should prepare for next classes instead of wasting their precious time in short courses being offered these days. “I was a student of matriculation (science subjects) and had studied computer as a subject”, he said adding “I am confident of passing my matric exam, therefore, I am studying course of FSc Pre-Engineering these days”. Farrukh, father of a student, however, said it was unfortunate that most of the institutions were fleecing innocent students and their parents in the name of short courses. “Nothing practical is taught to the students”, he said adding “I am personally against such courses as this is merely a loss of time and money”.The News International
Friday, 27 June 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Students perturbed over rising education costs
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The education sector is no exception to being affected by the unprecedented inflation as public sector universities have started increasing tuition fee and other charges. In a recent meeting, the Government College University syndicate approved an increase in tuition fee of all the programmes for the upcoming academic session. It is learnt that all the newcomers will have to pay around 12 percent extra tuition fee. Sources say, initially, the proposal floated in the meeting aimed at increasing the tuition fee for all the programmes by 15 percent, but there was a consensus on 12 percent increase. Talking to The News, a senior GCU official said the varsity had not increased the tuition fee during the last four years, adding the i
nsurmountable inflation was the main cause behind the increase. A series of protests were held at the Kinnaird College (KC) recently when the college authorities started charging fee according to the revised fee structure. Though, the fee of all the programmes had been increased, the increase in the fee of the college’s BBA programme was so high as the college students had to protest against the decision. The Punjab University’s Finance and Planning Committee decided to enhance the examination and registration fee by 15 per cent in a meeting held last week. Reportedly, the PU administration has not increased tuition and admission fee for the on-campus, regular students and the decision, subject to the approval of the syndicate, would apply only to the private students.It may be mentioned here that thousands of students appear in BA/BSc, MA/MSc and other examinations conducted by the Punjab University every year. At present, the PU is charging Rs 1200 as registration fee while the examination fee varies from programme to programme.The exam fee for BA is Rs 1700, for BSc Rs 2100, for MA Part-I and Part-II Rs 2025 each and for MSc Part-I and Part-II Rs 2225 each. Double fees are also charged if a candidate fails to deposit his/her dues for registration and exams before the deadline.Talking to The News, a large number of students and their parents expressed concern over the increasing fees of the public sector institutions, saying the government must intervene to provide relief to the inflation-stricken poor. Azeem, a student, said the PU was already collecting a handsome amount through registration and exam fees, adding the recent increase, if approved by the varsity’s syndicate, would add to the miseries of the students. Zaheer Ahmed, the father of a student, said the government was providing support of million of rupees to the public sector universities, adding it must ensure check on the fee structure as well.However, a senior PU official said the decision to increase the exam and registration fees was taken out of necessity, adding the increasing inflation was the main cause behind the increase. “The prices of paper have increased while the transportation has also become costly”, he said, adding “the remuneration for those involved in script marking would also be increased.”The official said grants for the public sector universities had also been reduced by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). “In such circumstance it was impossible to maintain the registration and exam fee structure”, he added.
nsurmountable inflation was the main cause behind the increase. A series of protests were held at the Kinnaird College (KC) recently when the college authorities started charging fee according to the revised fee structure. Though, the fee of all the programmes had been increased, the increase in the fee of the college’s BBA programme was so high as the college students had to protest against the decision. The Punjab University’s Finance and Planning Committee decided to enhance the examination and registration fee by 15 per cent in a meeting held last week. Reportedly, the PU administration has not increased tuition and admission fee for the on-campus, regular students and the decision, subject to the approval of the syndicate, would apply only to the private students.It may be mentioned here that thousands of students appear in BA/BSc, MA/MSc and other examinations conducted by the Punjab University every year. At present, the PU is charging Rs 1200 as registration fee while the examination fee varies from programme to programme.The exam fee for BA is Rs 1700, for BSc Rs 2100, for MA Part-I and Part-II Rs 2025 each and for MSc Part-I and Part-II Rs 2225 each. Double fees are also charged if a candidate fails to deposit his/her dues for registration and exams before the deadline.Talking to The News, a large number of students and their parents expressed concern over the increasing fees of the public sector institutions, saying the government must intervene to provide relief to the inflation-stricken poor. Azeem, a student, said the PU was already collecting a handsome amount through registration and exam fees, adding the recent increase, if approved by the varsity’s syndicate, would add to the miseries of the students. Zaheer Ahmed, the father of a student, said the government was providing support of million of rupees to the public sector universities, adding it must ensure check on the fee structure as well.However, a senior PU official said the decision to increase the exam and registration fees was taken out of necessity, adding the increasing inflation was the main cause behind the increase. “The prices of paper have increased while the transportation has also become costly”, he said, adding “the remuneration for those involved in script marking would also be increased.”The official said grants for the public sector universities had also been reduced by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). “In such circumstance it was impossible to maintain the registration and exam fee structure”, he added. Source: The News International
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Students resent directive to prepare theses anew
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: A CONTROVERSY has erupted over theses of final semester students of the Lahore College for Women University’s Design and Visual Arts Department as students have been told by the vice chancellor to prepare their theses for display once again.The students, however, are reluctant to repeat the exercise on the plea it would put extra financial burden on their parents and a waste of time and hard work, already put in this connection.In this regard, the students of Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) who are studying Graphic Designing as major and their parents also met with the LCWU VC Prof Dr Bushra Mateen on Monday. It is learnt that the VC did not change her decision and asked students to prepare their theses once again.The aggrieved students including Fatima Qayyum, Quratulain, Alvina Malik, Namra Kaleem, Farwa Batool, Sanya Safdar, Fiza Jabeen, Atiya Khadim, Zahra Rasool, Anush Ali, Sumbel Rauf and Abira Shafiq told reporters that their theses work was displayed at Al Hamra Art Gallery recently. They added that this fact was not being recognised by the VC owing to which they had been asked to repeat. They said their external examiners had also awarded them marks after examining their theses display at the exhibition. However, the same was not being recognized either, they added.They said they had worked hard and spent a lot of money in order to prepare their theses for display. To repeat the same would be quite difficult for them, they added. They said it could also affect positions of the students. They said it was strange that the theses display, which was organised by their department at Al Hamra Art Gallery, was not being recognised by the VC. They said that even LCWU Registrar Shaista Wyne was present at the time of inauguration of the display. When contacted in this regard, LCWU VC Dr Bushra Mateen refused to comment while department’s head was not available for comments.
The News International
Tuesday, June 24, 2008.
LAHORE: A CONTROVERSY has erupted over theses of final semester students of the Lahore College for Women University’s Design and Visual Arts Department as students have been told by the vice chancellor to prepare their theses for display once again.The students, however, are reluctant to repeat the exercise on the plea it would put extra financial burden on their parents and a waste of time and hard work, already put in this connection.In this regard, the students of Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) who are studying Graphic Designing as major and their parents also met with the LCWU VC Prof Dr Bushra Mateen on Monday. It is learnt that the VC did not change her decision and asked students to prepare their theses once again.The aggrieved students including Fatima Qayyum, Quratulain, Alvina Malik, Namra Kaleem, Farwa Batool, Sanya Safdar, Fiza Jabeen, Atiya Khadim, Zahra Rasool, Anush Ali, Sumbel Rauf and Abira Shafiq told reporters that their theses work was displayed at Al Hamra Art Gallery recently. They added that this fact was not being recognised by the VC owing to which they had been asked to repeat. They said their external examiners had also awarded them marks after examining their theses display at the exhibition. However, the same was not being recognized either, they added.They said they had worked hard and spent a lot of money in order to prepare their theses for display. To repeat the same would be quite difficult for them, they added. They said it could also affect positions of the students. They said it was strange that the theses display, which was organised by their department at Al Hamra Art Gallery, was not being recognised by the VC. They said that even LCWU Registrar Shaista Wyne was present at the time of inauguration of the display. When contacted in this regard, LCWU VC Dr Bushra Mateen refused to comment while department’s head was not available for comments.
The News International
Tuesday, June 24, 2008.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Students drinking polluted water
By Ali Raza
LAHORE: Health of hundred of students is at risk as drinking water in four different schools and a college contained bacterial contamination and declared unfit for human consumption by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA)Some months back Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in a random sampling detected bacterial contamination in different teaching hospitals and colleges included King Edward Medical College, Mayo Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital, Fatimah Jinnah Medical College, Jinnah Hospital, Allama Iqbal Medical Colleges, Sheikh Zaid Hospital, Kinnaird College University, Lahore College Women University, APWA College, Services Hospital, New Kashmir Girls High School and Government Degree College for Women in Kot Khwaja Saeed.Polluted drinking water has already become a serious threat to Lahorites as majority of localities in the provincial capital are getting water with bacterial contamination resulting in spread of different diseases especially of stomach. Water contamination is also resulting in illnesses such as diarrhea, typhoid, intestinal worms and hepatitis among the students and teachers of these colleges as well as among the patients and their attendants.WASA officials said the common bacterial contamination found in the defective samples was the presence of Coliform Bacteria, which according to the WHO standards should be 0 in 100 ml. Officials said presence of Coliform Bacteria in water is a clear indicator that sewer water is mixed in the water distribution system.Coliform Bacteria are abundant in feces of warm-blooded animals. In most instances, Coliforms themselves are not the cause of sickness, but they are easy to culture and their presence is used to indicate that other pathogenic organisms of fecal origin may be present. Fecal pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoa or parasites.Following the increasing complaints of the masses regarding water contamination, WASA recently collected tap water samples from different areas of the city. During the random sampling, WASA detected water contamination in various localities including five samples from schools and a college.Two samples were collected from Dawn Public School, Saeed Park, Shahdara and both were found highly contaminated. The only sample of Govt Boys High School, Shahdara was found contaminated. The sample collected from Laureate Lahore Senior School 152, Ali Block, New Garden Town was also found contaminated.The water sample taken from the tap of the kitchen of Fast College, Faisal Town was also found highly contaminated while the sample collected from the tap of left side of the Main Gate of the Fast College, Car Parking, Faisal Town was also found contaminated.Rest of the samples found contaminated are collected from Tap R/O Muhammad Younas Mughal H # 7, Main Road Qazi Park, Shahdara, Tap H # 1082, CII, China Scheme, Tap H # 2, S # 106, Qasir Town, Shahdara, Tap H # 15, S # 2S, Saeed Park, Shahdara, Tap H # 142, S # 98, Qasim Park, Shahdara, P.S.P. Qaisar Town, Shahdara, Tap H # 125, Block DII, Gulshan Ravi, Tap H # 1152, S # 25, Madina Colony, Gulshan Ravi, Tap H # 6, S # 25, Madina Colony, Gulshan Ravi, Tap H # 6, DI, Gulshan Ravi, Tap H # 41-A, Ali Block, New Garden Town, Tap H # 4, Akbar Street, Javen Hana, New Garden Town, Tap H # 71, Ali Block, New Garden Town, Tap H#142, Habib Ullah Road,Garhi Shahu, Tap H # 86, Kachi Abadi, Habib Ullah Road, Tap H # 11, S # 13, Mohammad Nagar, Tap Moneeb Autos Workshop, Mohammad Nagar, Tap H # 307, S # 4, Marzi Pura, Tap H # 36, S # 2B, Saeed Park, Shahdara, Tap H # 29, S # 2, Saeed Park, Shahdara, Tap H # 6, S # 9, Bilal Gunj and Tap Office Union Concil District Govt.This news is published in The News on May 30, 2008.
Courtesy: pollutedlahore.blogspot.com
LAHORE: Health of hundred of students is at risk as drinking water in four different schools and a college contained bacterial contamination and declared unfit for human consumption by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA)Some months back Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in a random sampling detected bacterial contamination in different teaching hospitals and colleges included King Edward Medical College, Mayo Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital, Fatimah Jinnah Medical College, Jinnah Hospital, Allama Iqbal Medical Colleges, Sheikh Zaid Hospital, Kinnaird College University, Lahore College Women University, APWA College, Services Hospital, New Kashmir Girls High School and Government Degree College for Women in Kot Khwaja Saeed.Polluted drinking water has already become a serious threat to Lahorites as majority of localities in the provincial capital are getting water with bacterial contamination resulting in spread of different diseases especially of stomach. Water contamination is also resulting in illnesses such as diarrhea, typhoid, intestinal worms and hepatitis among the students and teachers of these colleges as well as among the patients and their attendants.WASA officials said the common bacterial contamination found in the defective samples was the presence of Coliform Bacteria, which according to the WHO standards should be 0 in 100 ml. Officials said presence of Coliform Bacteria in water is a clear indicator that sewer water is mixed in the water distribution system.Coliform Bacteria are abundant in feces of warm-blooded animals. In most instances, Coliforms themselves are not the cause of sickness, but they are easy to culture and their presence is used to indicate that other pathogenic organisms of fecal origin may be present. Fecal pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoa or parasites.Following the increasing complaints of the masses regarding water contamination, WASA recently collected tap water samples from different areas of the city. During the random sampling, WASA detected water contamination in various localities including five samples from schools and a college.Two samples were collected from Dawn Public School, Saeed Park, Shahdara and both were found highly contaminated. The only sample of Govt Boys High School, Shahdara was found contaminated. The sample collected from Laureate Lahore Senior School 152, Ali Block, New Garden Town was also found contaminated.The water sample taken from the tap of the kitchen of Fast College, Faisal Town was also found highly contaminated while the sample collected from the tap of left side of the Main Gate of the Fast College, Car Parking, Faisal Town was also found contaminated.Rest of the samples found contaminated are collected from Tap R/O Muhammad Younas Mughal H # 7, Main Road Qazi Park, Shahdara, Tap H # 1082, CII, China Scheme, Tap H # 2, S # 106, Qasir Town, Shahdara, Tap H # 15, S # 2S, Saeed Park, Shahdara, Tap H # 142, S # 98, Qasim Park, Shahdara, P.S.P. Qaisar Town, Shahdara, Tap H # 125, Block DII, Gulshan Ravi, Tap H # 1152, S # 25, Madina Colony, Gulshan Ravi, Tap H # 6, S # 25, Madina Colony, Gulshan Ravi, Tap H # 6, DI, Gulshan Ravi, Tap H # 41-A, Ali Block, New Garden Town, Tap H # 4, Akbar Street, Javen Hana, New Garden Town, Tap H # 71, Ali Block, New Garden Town, Tap H#142, Habib Ullah Road,Garhi Shahu, Tap H # 86, Kachi Abadi, Habib Ullah Road, Tap H # 11, S # 13, Mohammad Nagar, Tap Moneeb Autos Workshop, Mohammad Nagar, Tap H # 307, S # 4, Marzi Pura, Tap H # 36, S # 2B, Saeed Park, Shahdara, Tap H # 29, S # 2, Saeed Park, Shahdara, Tap H # 6, S # 9, Bilal Gunj and Tap Office Union Concil District Govt.This news is published in The News on May 30, 2008.
Courtesy: pollutedlahore.blogspot.com
Fuel shortage forces PU to stop bus service
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE shortage of diesel in the market has forced the Punjab University to suspend its bus service for students.Nonetheless the university administration is reluctant to buy diesel available on inflated prices as it would create problems during annual audit, say those who are at the helm. The suspension of bus service by the P
unjab University (PU) has been causing great troubles to the students as most of them are now solely dependant on public transport.It is learnt that similar problem of diesel’s shortage was being faced by other universities which are planning to cut the number of buses being used to pick and drop students.The Punjab University which has the largest fleet of buses among public sector universities of the metropolis is, at the moment, providing only shuttle service to its students between varsity’s Old Campus and New Campus. While service to pick and drop PU students from different localities of the city has been suspended by the university administration for the last two days.The total strength of PU students is over 25,000 while according to an estimate over 15,000 students use varsity’s transport service on daily basis to reach both campuses from various areas of the city.Talking to The News, a number of students expressed concern over suspension of PU bus service and criticised the government for not addressing the issue of fuel shortage on priority basis. Mehwish, a student, said female students were worst hit by the suspension of varsity’s bus service adding that certainly no one could blame PU administration for this. “It is quite difficult for a female student to use public transport these days”, she said adding, “The massive rush on roads adds to their miseries.”Another student said it was quite strange to note that PU did not have a single CNG-bus. He said the situation would have been different provided university had such buses.He suggested that universities should induct CNG-buses in their fleet. He said it would not only reduce environmental issues but would also help reducing expenditures spent on fuel.When contacted, PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said that bus service on various routes had to be suspended because of shortage of diesel. He said the service would be resumed as soon as availability of diesel was ensured. He said the univers
ity would certainly plan to convert maximum number of its buses on CNG.Talking to The News, PU Resident Officer (RO-I) Dr Bashir Ahmed said the university was facing shortage of diesel for its buses owing to which only shuttle service was being provided to the students. He said the shuttle service was earlier provided after every half an hour from the varsity’s Old and New Campus but now it was being offered after a delay of one hour.He said students as well as their parents had been informed that some routes would not be operational for some time because of shortage of diesel.Dr Bashir said total consumption of fuel by the PU buses was over 3,000 liters per day. He said the university could not purchase diesel on inflated prices as it would lead to audit objections.
LAHORE: THE shortage of diesel in the market has forced the Punjab University to suspend its bus service for students.Nonetheless the university administration is reluctant to buy diesel available on inflated prices as it would create problems during annual audit, say those who are at the helm. The suspension of bus service by the P
unjab University (PU) has been causing great troubles to the students as most of them are now solely dependant on public transport.It is learnt that similar problem of diesel’s shortage was being faced by other universities which are planning to cut the number of buses being used to pick and drop students.The Punjab University which has the largest fleet of buses among public sector universities of the metropolis is, at the moment, providing only shuttle service to its students between varsity’s Old Campus and New Campus. While service to pick and drop PU students from different localities of the city has been suspended by the university administration for the last two days.The total strength of PU students is over 25,000 while according to an estimate over 15,000 students use varsity’s transport service on daily basis to reach both campuses from various areas of the city.Talking to The News, a number of students expressed concern over suspension of PU bus service and criticised the government for not addressing the issue of fuel shortage on priority basis. Mehwish, a student, said female students were worst hit by the suspension of varsity’s bus service adding that certainly no one could blame PU administration for this. “It is quite difficult for a female student to use public transport these days”, she said adding, “The massive rush on roads adds to their miseries.”Another student said it was quite strange to note that PU did not have a single CNG-bus. He said the situation would have been different provided university had such buses.He suggested that universities should induct CNG-buses in their fleet. He said it would not only reduce environmental issues but would also help reducing expenditures spent on fuel.When contacted, PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said that bus service on various routes had to be suspended because of shortage of diesel. He said the service would be resumed as soon as availability of diesel was ensured. He said the univers
ity would certainly plan to convert maximum number of its buses on CNG.Talking to The News, PU Resident Officer (RO-I) Dr Bashir Ahmed said the university was facing shortage of diesel for its buses owing to which only shuttle service was being provided to the students. He said the shuttle service was earlier provided after every half an hour from the varsity’s Old and New Campus but now it was being offered after a delay of one hour.He said students as well as their parents had been informed that some routes would not be operational for some time because of shortage of diesel.Dr Bashir said total consumption of fuel by the PU buses was over 3,000 liters per day. He said the university could not purchase diesel on inflated prices as it would lead to audit objections.Sunday, June 15, 2008
Students urge govt to scrap self-finance scheme
Welcome abolition of self-finance in medical colleges
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE recent announcement of Punjab Chief Minister regarding abolition of self-finance scheme for admission to the medical colleges has given hope to hundreds of prospective students of engineering, pharmacy and other demand driven disciplines.They are of the view that the government should ensure merit based admission in all disciplines without any discrimination. They believe self-finance scheme for admissions in engineering, other professional studies and even in general education was also depriving deserving students as were being deprived in medical colleges.Talking to The News, a number of students welcomed the recent decision regarding abolition self-finance scheme for admission to medical colleges of the province. Nonetheless they demanded the government to abolish such schemes from all the institutions offering professional as well as general education.Fahad, a student, said admission on self-finance basis should be abolished from all the public sector colleges and universities so that admission and educational facilities could be provided only to intelligent and deserving students. He was of the view that discipline of engineering and pharmacy were as important as that of medical. He said students now hoped that the government would also make efforts to eliminate self-finance schemes from other colleges and universities especially those offering professional education. Another student, Bilal, said seats reserved for self finance quota should be merged with merit seats so that more and more talented students could avail the opportunity to study at public sector institutions. He said poor but talented students could not afford education in private sector institutions because these were costly as compared to public sector institutions.According to the Punjab University (PU) website a student seeking admission on self-finance basis has to pay Rs 2, 50,000 for admission in, any one of, pharmacy, architecture and engineering programme of the university whereas Rs 200,000 are charged from a student seeking admission in BBA (Hons) in Banking and Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, MBA, BCom and MCom etc under the said scheme.Similarly, the Government College University (GCU), Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), Kinnaird College and many other public sector colleges and universities of the province offer admission on self finance basis. However, those who are at the helm are very critical of the emerging situation saying self-finance scheme for admission was introduced by the government for resource generation adding seats on financial basis were normally over and above the merit seats.Talking to The News, vice-chancellors (VCs) of various public sector universities said universities were ready to drop the self-finance scheme provided that government ensured matching grants as resource generation was certainly a tough job. “All the universities do not conduct examinations or grant affiliations like the Punjab University”, said one of the VCs, on condition of anonymity, adding these exercises were certainly sources of revenue. “But this is not the case with all the universities,” he said adding that admissions on self-finance basis were certainly helping institutions generate their resources.He said if the government ensured provision of appropriate funding for universities, public sector institutions would not hesitate to abolish self finance scheme for admission in all the disciplines.
Source: The News International
Monday, June 16, 2008
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE recent announcement of Punjab Chief Minister regarding abolition of self-finance scheme for admission to the medical colleges has given hope to hundreds of prospective students of engineering, pharmacy and other demand driven disciplines.They are of the view that the government should ensure merit based admission in all disciplines without any discrimination. They believe self-finance scheme for admissions in engineering, other professional studies and even in general education was also depriving deserving students as were being deprived in medical colleges.Talking to The News, a number of students welcomed the recent decision regarding abolition self-finance scheme for admission to medical colleges of the province. Nonetheless they demanded the government to abolish such schemes from all the institutions offering professional as well as general education.Fahad, a student, said admission on self-finance basis should be abolished from all the public sector colleges and universities so that admission and educational facilities could be provided only to intelligent and deserving students. He was of the view that discipline of engineering and pharmacy were as important as that of medical. He said students now hoped that the government would also make efforts to eliminate self-finance schemes from other colleges and universities especially those offering professional education. Another student, Bilal, said seats reserved for self finance quota should be merged with merit seats so that more and more talented students could avail the opportunity to study at public sector institutions. He said poor but talented students could not afford education in private sector institutions because these were costly as compared to public sector institutions.According to the Punjab University (PU) website a student seeking admission on self-finance basis has to pay Rs 2, 50,000 for admission in, any one of, pharmacy, architecture and engineering programme of the university whereas Rs 200,000 are charged from a student seeking admission in BBA (Hons) in Banking and Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, MBA, BCom and MCom etc under the said scheme.Similarly, the Government College University (GCU), Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), Kinnaird College and many other public sector colleges and universities of the province offer admission on self finance basis. However, those who are at the helm are very critical of the emerging situation saying self-finance scheme for admission was introduced by the government for resource generation adding seats on financial basis were normally over and above the merit seats.Talking to The News, vice-chancellors (VCs) of various public sector universities said universities were ready to drop the self-finance scheme provided that government ensured matching grants as resource generation was certainly a tough job. “All the universities do not conduct examinations or grant affiliations like the Punjab University”, said one of the VCs, on condition of anonymity, adding these exercises were certainly sources of revenue. “But this is not the case with all the universities,” he said adding that admissions on self-finance basis were certainly helping institutions generate their resources.He said if the government ensured provision of appropriate funding for universities, public sector institutions would not hesitate to abolish self finance scheme for admission in all the disciplines.
Source: The News International
Monday, June 16, 2008
DHA schools deny admission to outsiders
Parents required to submit original allotment letters,tenancy agreements to prove residence in DHA
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The administration of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has allegedly banned the admission of non-residents’ children to the schools run by the authority, The News has learnt.A number of parents expressed their concern over the ban terming it tantamount to infringement on the basic human rights. They said the administration had, in fact, adopted an unfair policy by restricting access of the non-DHA children to its schools, adding the schools should be open to all the children without any discrimination. An aggrieved parent while talking to The News said, after the ban, the parents seeking their children’s admissions to the DHA schools were required to provide original allotment letters or original tenancy agreements to prove their residence in DHA. Shahid, the parent of a child, said the new policy was affecting a large number of people of the DHA surrounding localities as their children were being denied admissions to DHA run schools. “The residents of Gulberg, Cantt and other localities prefer to send their children to DHA schools because of quality education being offered by the institutes”, he said adding “However, the new policy has disappointed and deprived them of the facility”.Shafiq, another citizen affected by the ban, expressed his apprehensions regarding the new admission policy saying it would promote corruption as some people might arrange fake tenancy agreements to prove their residence in the Defence Housing Authority in order to secure their children’s admission to the DHA-run- schools. “Such issues are likely to be witnessed in future if DHA does not reverse the policy”, he said, demanding the DHA authorities to immediately withdrawal the decision. “Is DHA out of Pakistan?” asked Sadia, a mother of two, saying it was unfortunate that children of non-DHA residents were being given the least priority for admissions to the DHA-run schools. “If things go on like this, the non-DHA residents may have to provide a visa for entry in the DHA in future”, she commented. It has been learnt by The News that around five educational institutions are currently operating in the DHA under the control of its administration where a large number of students, both from within and outside the DHA, are getting education.When contacted, spokesperson DHA, Tajamul Hussain, said the DHA residents had been complaining that their children could not get admission to the Authority’s schools, adding a policy had recently been introduced according to which children of the residents would be given first priority for admission. He said, earlier, the DHA schools had been following open policy, adding, from the new academic session, the schools would follow new policy according to which only children of the DHA residents would be given admission on priority basis. He further said non-DHA residents were not being denied admission, adding, however, they were on the second priority. DHA Director Education Col (r) K S Babar, however, denied introduction of any new policy in connection with the admissions to the DHA schools. He said DHA residents had been given priority, adding children of the non-DHA residents had also been granted admission since long.
Source: The News International
Sunday, 13 June, 2008
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The administration of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has allegedly banned the admission of non-residents’ children to the schools run by the authority, The News has learnt.A number of parents expressed their concern over the ban terming it tantamount to infringement on the basic human rights. They said the administration had, in fact, adopted an unfair policy by restricting access of the non-DHA children to its schools, adding the schools should be open to all the children without any discrimination. An aggrieved parent while talking to The News said, after the ban, the parents seeking their children’s admissions to the DHA schools were required to provide original allotment letters or original tenancy agreements to prove their residence in DHA. Shahid, the parent of a child, said the new policy was affecting a large number of people of the DHA surrounding localities as their children were being denied admissions to DHA run schools. “The residents of Gulberg, Cantt and other localities prefer to send their children to DHA schools because of quality education being offered by the institutes”, he said adding “However, the new policy has disappointed and deprived them of the facility”.Shafiq, another citizen affected by the ban, expressed his apprehensions regarding the new admission policy saying it would promote corruption as some people might arrange fake tenancy agreements to prove their residence in the Defence Housing Authority in order to secure their children’s admission to the DHA-run- schools. “Such issues are likely to be witnessed in future if DHA does not reverse the policy”, he said, demanding the DHA authorities to immediately withdrawal the decision. “Is DHA out of Pakistan?” asked Sadia, a mother of two, saying it was unfortunate that children of non-DHA residents were being given the least priority for admissions to the DHA-run schools. “If things go on like this, the non-DHA residents may have to provide a visa for entry in the DHA in future”, she commented. It has been learnt by The News that around five educational institutions are currently operating in the DHA under the control of its administration where a large number of students, both from within and outside the DHA, are getting education.When contacted, spokesperson DHA, Tajamul Hussain, said the DHA residents had been complaining that their children could not get admission to the Authority’s schools, adding a policy had recently been introduced according to which children of the residents would be given first priority for admission. He said, earlier, the DHA schools had been following open policy, adding, from the new academic session, the schools would follow new policy according to which only children of the DHA residents would be given admission on priority basis. He further said non-DHA residents were not being denied admission, adding, however, they were on the second priority. DHA Director Education Col (r) K S Babar, however, denied introduction of any new policy in connection with the admissions to the DHA schools. He said DHA residents had been given priority, adding children of the non-DHA residents had also been granted admission since long.
Source: The News International
Sunday, 13 June, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Rs 5b for IT labs at govt schools
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE Punjab government will allocate around Rs 5 billion in budget 2008-09 for the establishment of computer labs in government high and higher secondary schools of the province.With the addition of allocation for the establishment of computer laboratories, the total allocations for education sector in the budget 2008-09 would be over Rs 27 billion, sources dealing with the budget proposals informed The News.They said the allocations for the computer education project would be reflected in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) in the upcoming budget. The said the project was not in budgetary proposals forwarded by the education department earlier, adding efforts in that connection were made following the announcement by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in which he had said over 4000 public schools would be given facilities to impart computer education in the near future. The announcement regarding the provision of computer education in all the high and higher secondary schools of Punjab was made by Shahbaz Sharif in his maiden speech after being elected as CM Punjab on June 8. He had also maintained that the judiciary, the health and the education sectors would be among top priorities of his government.Sources in the school education department said that the CM had vowed to provide opportunities of computer education to students of all high and higher secondary schools of the province during the upcoming fiscal year. “For this purpose IT labs would be established in around 4500 high and higher secondary schools of the province”, they said. “There are over 5000 high and higher secondary schools in Punjab”, they said, adding “Over 512 have already been provided the facilities of computers and IT labs”.They said the project regarding the establishment of IT labs in the government high and higher secondary schools was initiated in 2004 with support of the federal government. “Since then, IT labs have been establishment in over 500 schools of Punjab”, they said, adding “The rest of the schools were still deprived of the facility”. An official of school education department said the establishment of computer labs in around 4500 schools in one year would be a challenging task, adding, however, it was not impossible provided there was a vision. “The project earlier could not be completed because of funding issues in the past”, he added. Talking about School Education budgetary allocations in 2008-09 ADP, he said, earlier, over Rs 10 billion were proposed in school education adding, with the addition of computer education project, the total proposed allocation for the department would be over Rs 16 billion.When contacted, a senior officer of Punjab School Education Department, seeking anonymity, confirmed the proposed budgetary allocation for computer education. He said the special announcement in that regard would be made in the upcoming budget. He said school education was top priority of the new government, adding maximum allocations were likely to be made for the school education department in budget 2008-09.
Source: The News International
Friday, June 13, 2008
LAHORE: THE Punjab government will allocate around Rs 5 billion in budget 2008-09 for the establishment of computer labs in government high and higher secondary schools of the province.With the addition of allocation for the establishment of computer laboratories, the total allocations for education sector in the budget 2008-09 would be over Rs 27 billion, sources dealing with the budget proposals informed The News.They said the allocations for the computer education project would be reflected in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) in the upcoming budget. The said the project was not in budgetary proposals forwarded by the education department earlier, adding efforts in that connection were made following the announcement by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in which he had said over 4000 public schools would be given facilities to impart computer education in the near future. The announcement regarding the provision of computer education in all the high and higher secondary schools of Punjab was made by Shahbaz Sharif in his maiden speech after being elected as CM Punjab on June 8. He had also maintained that the judiciary, the health and the education sectors would be among top priorities of his government.Sources in the school education department said that the CM had vowed to provide opportunities of computer education to students of all high and higher secondary schools of the province during the upcoming fiscal year. “For this purpose IT labs would be established in around 4500 high and higher secondary schools of the province”, they said. “There are over 5000 high and higher secondary schools in Punjab”, they said, adding “Over 512 have already been provided the facilities of computers and IT labs”.They said the project regarding the establishment of IT labs in the government high and higher secondary schools was initiated in 2004 with support of the federal government. “Since then, IT labs have been establishment in over 500 schools of Punjab”, they said, adding “The rest of the schools were still deprived of the facility”. An official of school education department said the establishment of computer labs in around 4500 schools in one year would be a challenging task, adding, however, it was not impossible provided there was a vision. “The project earlier could not be completed because of funding issues in the past”, he added. Talking about School Education budgetary allocations in 2008-09 ADP, he said, earlier, over Rs 10 billion were proposed in school education adding, with the addition of computer education project, the total proposed allocation for the department would be over Rs 16 billion.When contacted, a senior officer of Punjab School Education Department, seeking anonymity, confirmed the proposed budgetary allocation for computer education. He said the special announcement in that regard would be made in the upcoming budget. He said school education was top priority of the new government, adding maximum allocations were likely to be made for the school education department in budget 2008-09.
Source: The News International
Friday, June 13, 2008
Education depts finalise Rs 22b budgetary proposals
Friday, June 06, 2008
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: VARIOUS departments in the education sector have forwarded budgetary proposals worth Rs 22 billion in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) 2008-09 in the upcoming budget, The News has learnt.According to sources, a major chunk of proposed allocation - over Rs 20 billion - had been proposed by the Punjab School Education Department and the Higher Education Department while rest of the allocation in the budget has been proposed by other departments, including Punjab Special Education Department and Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Department.The Punjab government had allocated Rs 21.480 billion for education sector in the ADP 2007-08, registering an increase of 72 per cent as compared to the budgetary allocation for 2006-07.Sources in the Punjab Education Department, which has recently been bifurcated into the School Education department and the Higher Education department, have finalized budget proposals.According to the sources, the School Education Department has proposed around Rs 10 billion budget adding almost similar allocations were being proposed by the Higher Education Department. Regular meetings were being held with the Planning and Development (PD) Department these days.Sources in the Special Education Department said the department had proposed around Rs 1 billion allocations but the PD had imposed cuts on these proposals. It is also learnt that the Literacy Department had also proposed around Rs 1 billion budgetary allocation.Senior officials of departments in the education sector, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the PD had been imposing cuts on the proposed allocations forwarded by various departments adding meetings to finalise the budgetary proposals were being held in this connection almost on a daily basis. They said various schemes, introduced in the ADP 2007-08 which could not be initiated during the whole last year would be included in the upcoming annual development plan.The sources revealed that various schemes for the higher education for the year 2007-08 including internal merit scholarships for professional colleges in Punjab, establishment of public library at Kamalia, Toba Tak Singh, college teachers training, establishment of Government Girls’ Degree College Shahdra, Marghazar Colony Lahore, Khanewal, Sialkot and Chakwal and establishment of Boys Degree Colleges at Gujrat, Multan, Jhang and Shalimar Town Lahore could not be initiated and these schemes would be included in the ADP 2008-09.When contacted, Higher Education Department’s Deputy Director (Planning) Iftikhar Hassan Butt said some schemes regarding establishment of new colleges could not be initiated due to non availability of land. He said majority of the schemes had been approved and would be started soon. A scheme regarding college teachers training could not be started in 2007-08 and it would be included in 2008-09 ADP. He said around 85 percent of the previous budgetary allocation had been used so far.According to the sources, a number of schemes from the school side could not be started during the previous fiscal year and would be included in the upcoming ADP. Prominent among these schemes are renovation of Government Central Model High School, Lower Mall and provision of building for the Punjab Examination Commission. They said both the schemes had been included in the ADP 2008-09.It is learnt that a number of these schemes related to the Literacy and Non Formal Basic Education Department included in the ADP 2007-08 could not be started during the ongoing fiscal year about to end soon and these schemes had been included in the next ADP.It is learnt that the Special Education Department had started almost all the schemes including nutrition programme for students of special education, provision of teaching aids to students, establishment of a computer lab and recourse and guidance center at Lahore, provision of first aid kits to the institutions of special education in Punjab, establishment of special home for destitute children at Lahore, implementation of special education institutions/ centers in Punjab and some other schemes.The sources said a scheme regarding establishment of labs for the repair and maintenance of equipment/ teaching aids at district level in Punjab was dropped by the secretary of the Special Education Department. When contacted, Secretary Suhail Masood said the scheme was dropped after thorough deliberations. “It would have become a liability for ever because of which the scheme was dropped”, he added.
Source: The News International
Friday, June 06, 2008
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: VARIOUS departments in the education sector have forwarded budgetary proposals worth Rs 22 billion in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) 2008-09 in the upcoming budget, The News has learnt.According to sources, a major chunk of proposed allocation - over Rs 20 billion - had been proposed by the Punjab School Education Department and the Higher Education Department while rest of the allocation in the budget has been proposed by other departments, including Punjab Special Education Department and Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Department.The Punjab government had allocated Rs 21.480 billion for education sector in the ADP 2007-08, registering an increase of 72 per cent as compared to the budgetary allocation for 2006-07.Sources in the Punjab Education Department, which has recently been bifurcated into the School Education department and the Higher Education department, have finalized budget proposals.According to the sources, the School Education Department has proposed around Rs 10 billion budget adding almost similar allocations were being proposed by the Higher Education Department. Regular meetings were being held with the Planning and Development (PD) Department these days.Sources in the Special Education Department said the department had proposed around Rs 1 billion allocations but the PD had imposed cuts on these proposals. It is also learnt that the Literacy Department had also proposed around Rs 1 billion budgetary allocation.Senior officials of departments in the education sector, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the PD had been imposing cuts on the proposed allocations forwarded by various departments adding meetings to finalise the budgetary proposals were being held in this connection almost on a daily basis. They said various schemes, introduced in the ADP 2007-08 which could not be initiated during the whole last year would be included in the upcoming annual development plan.The sources revealed that various schemes for the higher education for the year 2007-08 including internal merit scholarships for professional colleges in Punjab, establishment of public library at Kamalia, Toba Tak Singh, college teachers training, establishment of Government Girls’ Degree College Shahdra, Marghazar Colony Lahore, Khanewal, Sialkot and Chakwal and establishment of Boys Degree Colleges at Gujrat, Multan, Jhang and Shalimar Town Lahore could not be initiated and these schemes would be included in the ADP 2008-09.When contacted, Higher Education Department’s Deputy Director (Planning) Iftikhar Hassan Butt said some schemes regarding establishment of new colleges could not be initiated due to non availability of land. He said majority of the schemes had been approved and would be started soon. A scheme regarding college teachers training could not be started in 2007-08 and it would be included in 2008-09 ADP. He said around 85 percent of the previous budgetary allocation had been used so far.According to the sources, a number of schemes from the school side could not be started during the previous fiscal year and would be included in the upcoming ADP. Prominent among these schemes are renovation of Government Central Model High School, Lower Mall and provision of building for the Punjab Examination Commission. They said both the schemes had been included in the ADP 2008-09.It is learnt that a number of these schemes related to the Literacy and Non Formal Basic Education Department included in the ADP 2007-08 could not be started during the ongoing fiscal year about to end soon and these schemes had been included in the next ADP.It is learnt that the Special Education Department had started almost all the schemes including nutrition programme for students of special education, provision of teaching aids to students, establishment of a computer lab and recourse and guidance center at Lahore, provision of first aid kits to the institutions of special education in Punjab, establishment of special home for destitute children at Lahore, implementation of special education institutions/ centers in Punjab and some other schemes.The sources said a scheme regarding establishment of labs for the repair and maintenance of equipment/ teaching aids at district level in Punjab was dropped by the secretary of the Special Education Department. When contacted, Secretary Suhail Masood said the scheme was dropped after thorough deliberations. “It would have become a liability for ever because of which the scheme was dropped”, he added.
Source: The News International
Friday, June 06, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
People lose faith in state-run schools
Monday, June 09, 2008
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The general appreciation of quality and standard of education offered at government schools can be gauged well when one comes to know that officers at the helm send their own children to private schools.A strange situation developed during a meeting of Punjab Secretary Schools with the Executive District Officers (Education) of the province last week when the former asked whether anyone of them was sending his children to a government school. Interestingly, and yet unfortunately, silence was the only answer to the query. One wonders why people are drifting towards private schools in Punjab when education is free besides provision of free textbooks to students of the government schools. Understanding the difference between quality and standard of education offered by public and private schools requires no rocket science. The mushroom growth of private schools over the years is a clear evidence of the fact that people are losing their interest in the state-run-schools and switching to affordable private schools in order to provide opportunities of good schooling to their kith and kin. Those who can afford, send their children to elite private schools, especially those which are offering foreign courses like O and A levels. Those who have limited resources also prefer to send their children to private schools. A simple appraisal of our own surroundings can explain how people set priorities as far as education is concerned.Academic circles are very critical of the prevailing trend and believe that situation would have been different provided the government sector schools had emerged as competitors, which at the moment are not with a few exceptions. Some public sector schools do have demand among people who make every effort to get their children admission there but the truth is hundreds of other schools are not taking part in the competition owing to which people see them as a last option only.Educationists and academicians believe that the prevailing situation is certainly disappointing and needs serious attention of authorities concerned. They say it is unfortunate that despite presence of mechanism for teachers’ training and monitoring system, over which millions are being spent, the quality and standard can not be ensured at the government schools. They argue that besides providing missing facilities to government schools and hiring more teachers to overcome the shortage, the authorities should focus to motivate teachers to deliver the best. Academic circles also believe that only a sharp sense of realization among those at the helm can bring about revolutionary changes.
Source: The News International June 09, 2008
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The general appreciation of quality and standard of education offered at government schools can be gauged well when one comes to know that officers at the helm send their own children to private schools.A strange situation developed during a meeting of Punjab Secretary Schools with the Executive District Officers (Education) of the province last week when the former asked whether anyone of them was sending his children to a government school. Interestingly, and yet unfortunately, silence was the only answer to the query. One wonders why people are drifting towards private schools in Punjab when education is free besides provision of free textbooks to students of the government schools. Understanding the difference between quality and standard of education offered by public and private schools requires no rocket science. The mushroom growth of private schools over the years is a clear evidence of the fact that people are losing their interest in the state-run-schools and switching to affordable private schools in order to provide opportunities of good schooling to their kith and kin. Those who can afford, send their children to elite private schools, especially those which are offering foreign courses like O and A levels. Those who have limited resources also prefer to send their children to private schools. A simple appraisal of our own surroundings can explain how people set priorities as far as education is concerned.Academic circles are very critical of the prevailing trend and believe that situation would have been different provided the government sector schools had emerged as competitors, which at the moment are not with a few exceptions. Some public sector schools do have demand among people who make every effort to get their children admission there but the truth is hundreds of other schools are not taking part in the competition owing to which people see them as a last option only.Educationists and academicians believe that the prevailing situation is certainly disappointing and needs serious attention of authorities concerned. They say it is unfortunate that despite presence of mechanism for teachers’ training and monitoring system, over which millions are being spent, the quality and standard can not be ensured at the government schools. They argue that besides providing missing facilities to government schools and hiring more teachers to overcome the shortage, the authorities should focus to motivate teachers to deliver the best. Academic circles also believe that only a sharp sense of realization among those at the helm can bring about revolutionary changes.
Source: The News International June 09, 2008
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