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
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