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
Sunday, August 31, 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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)