By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE Punjab government has appointed administrators in ten selected schools of banned outfit Jamat ud Dawa after intelligence agencies reported that these institutions were promoting extremism.As many as 26 educational institutions of Jamat ud Dawa are operating in various parts of the province but the government has appointed administrators in only 10 selected schools.Sources revealed that following a ban imposed on the JD, intelligence agencies informed the government that ten of JD educational institutions in various parts of Punjab were promoting extremism. “Special lectures promoting Jihad are delivered to students especially at the time of assembly,” sources quoting intelligence reports said.A senior official of the School Education Department seeking anonymity said the move was aimed at resumption of academic activities at JD-run institutions especially in view of the upcoming matriculation annual examinations. He, however, said monitoring will also be job of the administrators. He said the administrators took over on Friday. To a question, he said teachers would not be replaced and they would continue to teach at these institutions.When contacted, Abdullah Muntazir, a spokesman for JD, said the organisation had always worked within the law adding discipline had been the top priority at Dawa schools. He said if there was any JD policy to promote non-academic activities or extremism among students then it would have been followed in all schools not only in ten schools. He said Dawa schools were not only registered with the government but these schools followed government approved syllabus. He said the government had asked principals of Dawa schools to coordinate with the administrators. Education and charity institutions of Jamat ud Dawa were raided on December 11 and its offices were sealed in compliance with the UN Security Council ban imposed in connection with recent Mumbai attacks. Following the ban, the government planned to take administrative control of the educational institutions run by the banned organisation.According to a notification issued by Punjab School Education Department, Muhammad Ashraf (Basic Pay Scale 19) Ex Senior Headmaster has been appointed administrator at Al-Dawa ModelHigher Secondary School, 8-KM Multan Road Lahore, Tanveer Ahmed (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government High School Qila Maseeta, Muridke, Sheikhupura at Al Dawa Model School, Al Dawa Centre Markaz-e-Tayyaba, Muridke, Sheikhupura, Humayun Shahid Rashid (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government Tariq High School, Sheikhupura at Al Dawa Model High School Shami Road, Sheikhupura, Muhammad Munir Mughal (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government Model Town High School Gujranwala at Al Dawa Model School, Kashmir Road, Peoples Colony Gujranwala, Abdul Salam (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government High School, Fort Abbas, Bahawalnagar at Al Dawa Model School, Fort Abbas, Bahawalnagar, Muhammad Yousaf Warraich (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government Comprehensive School, GT Road Gujrat at Al Dawa Model School, Shadman Colony Gujrat, Muhammad Altaf (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government Rafa-e-Aam High School Multan at Al Dawa Model School, Tareen Road Multan, Hamid Saeed (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government High School Kehror Pacca, Lodhran at Al Dawa Model School, Kehror Pacca Lodhran, Muhammad Riaz (BPS-19) Senior Headmaster Government MC High School, Okara at Al Dawa Model School, Canal Road Okara and Muhammad Tariq Malik (BPS-17) Headmaster Government High School, Pir Mahal, Toba Tek Singh at Al Dawa Model School, Bhussi Road, Khan Da Chak, Pir Mahal, Toba Tek Singh.
Source: The News International
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Report sought from private schools charging Rs 2,500 fee
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE Punjab Schools Education Department has asked the leading private schools, which have been charging Rs 2,500 and more as minimum fee per student per month, to send details regarding their fee structure being implemented from class 1 to class 10.The News has learnt that the department aims to present the data before the committee recently constituted by the chief minister to review the existing Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Ordinance 1984, and to propose suitable amendments in the Ordinance with the view to establish a standard for infrastructure, teaching staff and adopted syllabus, curriculum and examination system of the private sector schools.Officials of the department privy to the developments said the government was committed to cap fee structure of the private schools, as there had been growing concern by people in this regard. They added in return, the government would also reciprocate by giving certain relaxation in different types of taxes, etc.They said the Secretary Schools Nadeem Ashraf had recently ordered uniform registration policy under which all the private schools would be registered for a period of five years. “Earlier, there was no such uniform policy, which was a matter of great concern for the private schools”, they added.The officials further said since the Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Ordinance 1984 did not mention specific period of registration, in many cases open-ended registrations were also granted to private schools in past. “This created a lot of confusion among the stakeholders”, they said, adding, “The uniform registration policy will be a great service for private sector as well as for the department.”A senior official of the Schools Education Department, seeking anonymity, said that never in the past elite private schools had been asked by the department to share details about the fee structure. He said the data would be presented before the Chief Minister’s special committee so that it might propose relevant amendments in the 1984 Ordinance necessary to cap fee structure of private schools. He said there had been great concern among the stakeholders that elite private schools had been charging heavy fees with frequent increases while facilities provided to students both in term of academic and infrastructure were not in proportion to the fee charged. “There have also been reservations about various kinds of other charges being colleted by private schools”, he said adding, “The mandatory purchase of books and uniforms from prescribed stores was another issue”. The official further said all those elite schools, which had been offering matriculation stream and charging Rs 2,500 and more as monthly fee had been asked to send details about fee structure to the department.To a question, he said fee charged from students seeking foreign qualifications like O and A level had not been asked by the department.It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab government is currently working to establish an autonomous regulatory institution to oversee fee structure, registration, quality assurance and other aspects of private sector schools and in this connection, a committee comprising educationists, MPAs and private schools representatives had already been formed.The committee would propose structure, constitution and legal framework for an autonomous regulatory institution for private schools operating across the province.
Source: The News International
Friday, January 23, 2009
LAHORE: THE Punjab Schools Education Department has asked the leading private schools, which have been charging Rs 2,500 and more as minimum fee per student per month, to send details regarding their fee structure being implemented from class 1 to class 10.The News has learnt that the department aims to present the data before the committee recently constituted by the chief minister to review the existing Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Ordinance 1984, and to propose suitable amendments in the Ordinance with the view to establish a standard for infrastructure, teaching staff and adopted syllabus, curriculum and examination system of the private sector schools.Officials of the department privy to the developments said the government was committed to cap fee structure of the private schools, as there had been growing concern by people in this regard. They added in return, the government would also reciprocate by giving certain relaxation in different types of taxes, etc.They said the Secretary Schools Nadeem Ashraf had recently ordered uniform registration policy under which all the private schools would be registered for a period of five years. “Earlier, there was no such uniform policy, which was a matter of great concern for the private schools”, they added.The officials further said since the Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Ordinance 1984 did not mention specific period of registration, in many cases open-ended registrations were also granted to private schools in past. “This created a lot of confusion among the stakeholders”, they said, adding, “The uniform registration policy will be a great service for private sector as well as for the department.”A senior official of the Schools Education Department, seeking anonymity, said that never in the past elite private schools had been asked by the department to share details about the fee structure. He said the data would be presented before the Chief Minister’s special committee so that it might propose relevant amendments in the 1984 Ordinance necessary to cap fee structure of private schools. He said there had been great concern among the stakeholders that elite private schools had been charging heavy fees with frequent increases while facilities provided to students both in term of academic and infrastructure were not in proportion to the fee charged. “There have also been reservations about various kinds of other charges being colleted by private schools”, he said adding, “The mandatory purchase of books and uniforms from prescribed stores was another issue”. The official further said all those elite schools, which had been offering matriculation stream and charging Rs 2,500 and more as monthly fee had been asked to send details about fee structure to the department.To a question, he said fee charged from students seeking foreign qualifications like O and A level had not been asked by the department.It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab government is currently working to establish an autonomous regulatory institution to oversee fee structure, registration, quality assurance and other aspects of private sector schools and in this connection, a committee comprising educationists, MPAs and private schools representatives had already been formed.The committee would propose structure, constitution and legal framework for an autonomous regulatory institution for private schools operating across the province.
Source: The News International
Friday, January 23, 2009
PU leases land to telecom companies
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE Punjab University (PU) in a bid to generate revenue in the wake of severe cuts in grants by the federal government has leased its land to three cellular mobile companies for installation of towers.It is learnt that cellular mobile companies Warid Telecom, Mobilink and Zong have entered into a ten-year agreement with the PU.A senior PU official said university authorities felt the need to find ways to generate revenue as public sector universities were now receiving “meagre” funding from the Higher Education Commission.He said besides installation of towers, the PU administration had also invited telecom operators to use campus space for advertisement purposes. “The initiative is aimed at generating funds by allowing companies to advertise their products through billboards and temporary stalls on the campus etc,” he said.Talking to The News, a senior PU teacher seeking anonymity expressed concern over the initiative. He said quoting research reports that tower radiations were harmful and the university administration should have conducted a study of the impact of radiation on students, teachers and employees of the Punjab University. The varsity should have taken steps to counter any such danger, he added. “Unfortunately, the PU administration did not conduct any study or survey before entering into the agreement,” he claimed.There are more than 65 million mobile phones users in Pakistan and it is expected that this figure may increase to 80 million by 2010.The PU official said mobile phone companies were investing a lot in expansion of the infrastructure to meet the rising demand. He said antennas were mounted on towers and would not expose students and teachers to harmful radiation.Resident Officer (RO-II) Malik Zaheer said the PU would receive Rs 6 million annually by allowing cell phone companies to install towers on the campus. He said agreement was signed for a period of ten years with 10 percent increase annually.To a question, he said such towers were installed everywhere and did not have any harmful impact on the people. “We, however, have leased land with thin population in proximity,” he said.Malik said the areas where these towers would be erected are hostel side water tank No 3, near Shah Di Khoi, PU New Campus, near the university’s main library and area adjacent to residential colony of the varsity staff. When contacted, PU registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said the agreement was technically and economically feasible.
Source: The News International
Friday, January 16, 2009
LAHORE: THE Punjab University (PU) in a bid to generate revenue in the wake of severe cuts in grants by the federal government has leased its land to three cellular mobile companies for installation of towers.It is learnt that cellular mobile companies Warid Telecom, Mobilink and Zong have entered into a ten-year agreement with the PU.A senior PU official said university authorities felt the need to find ways to generate revenue as public sector universities were now receiving “meagre” funding from the Higher Education Commission.He said besides installation of towers, the PU administration had also invited telecom operators to use campus space for advertisement purposes. “The initiative is aimed at generating funds by allowing companies to advertise their products through billboards and temporary stalls on the campus etc,” he said.Talking to The News, a senior PU teacher seeking anonymity expressed concern over the initiative. He said quoting research reports that tower radiations were harmful and the university administration should have conducted a study of the impact of radiation on students, teachers and employees of the Punjab University. The varsity should have taken steps to counter any such danger, he added. “Unfortunately, the PU administration did not conduct any study or survey before entering into the agreement,” he claimed.There are more than 65 million mobile phones users in Pakistan and it is expected that this figure may increase to 80 million by 2010.The PU official said mobile phone companies were investing a lot in expansion of the infrastructure to meet the rising demand. He said antennas were mounted on towers and would not expose students and teachers to harmful radiation.Resident Officer (RO-II) Malik Zaheer said the PU would receive Rs 6 million annually by allowing cell phone companies to install towers on the campus. He said agreement was signed for a period of ten years with 10 percent increase annually.To a question, he said such towers were installed everywhere and did not have any harmful impact on the people. “We, however, have leased land with thin population in proximity,” he said.Malik said the areas where these towers would be erected are hostel side water tank No 3, near Shah Di Khoi, PU New Campus, near the university’s main library and area adjacent to residential colony of the varsity staff. When contacted, PU registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said the agreement was technically and economically feasible.
Source: The News International
Friday, January 16, 2009
Rs17,88,177 recovered from GCU VC as penal rent
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE Punjab government has recovered an amount of Rs17,88,177 from Government College University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Aftab as penal rent for his residence.Sources in the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) told The News on Tuesday that the GCU VC had been paying normal rent for his residence at 4-Club Lane, GOR-I, Upper Mall, since Sep 12, 2004, adding that since the GCU was an autonomous institution, its VC was not entitled to have an accommodation belonging to S&GAD on normal rent. All those belong to semi-government services/autonomous institutions had to pay penal rent instead of normal rent if they wanted to get accommodation belonging to the S&GAD, they added. The sources maintained that the GCU vice-chancellor had been occupying the GOR-I residence since he was principal of the then government college (GC). At that time, he was entitled to pay normal rent since the GC was a public sector college, they said, adding that after the GC was raised to the status of a university, the VC was supposed to pay penal rent instead of normal rent. “However the GCU VC continued to pay normal rent instead of penal rent”, they said. The sources further said the matter came to light recently when the GCU VC applied for getting extension regarding the his accommodation. A S&GAD letter, addressed to Dr Khalid Aftab, dated Nov 18, 2008, whose copy is available with The News, states: “I am directed to inform you that you are not entitled to an accommodation belonging to the S&GAD, thus you will have to pay penal rent and that non-drawl of house rent allowance from an autonomous body’s budget has no use for the Government of the Punjab”.Following this, the GCU Assistant Treasurer paid the outstanding amount on Dec 23, 2008, a copy of the said challan is also available with The News. When contacted Additional Chief Secretary Javed Aslam said as the GCU was an autonomous institution, its VC was not entitled to accommodation belonging to S&GAD on normal rent. He said the government recovered outstanding amount as penal rent at 60 per cent of the pay since Dr Khalid Aftab had only been paying normal rent since he became the GCU VC. When contacted Dr Khalid Aftab refused to comment.
Source: The News International
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
LAHORE: THE Punjab government has recovered an amount of Rs17,88,177 from Government College University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Aftab as penal rent for his residence.Sources in the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) told The News on Tuesday that the GCU VC had been paying normal rent for his residence at 4-Club Lane, GOR-I, Upper Mall, since Sep 12, 2004, adding that since the GCU was an autonomous institution, its VC was not entitled to have an accommodation belonging to S&GAD on normal rent. All those belong to semi-government services/autonomous institutions had to pay penal rent instead of normal rent if they wanted to get accommodation belonging to the S&GAD, they added. The sources maintained that the GCU vice-chancellor had been occupying the GOR-I residence since he was principal of the then government college (GC). At that time, he was entitled to pay normal rent since the GC was a public sector college, they said, adding that after the GC was raised to the status of a university, the VC was supposed to pay penal rent instead of normal rent. “However the GCU VC continued to pay normal rent instead of penal rent”, they said. The sources further said the matter came to light recently when the GCU VC applied for getting extension regarding the his accommodation. A S&GAD letter, addressed to Dr Khalid Aftab, dated Nov 18, 2008, whose copy is available with The News, states: “I am directed to inform you that you are not entitled to an accommodation belonging to the S&GAD, thus you will have to pay penal rent and that non-drawl of house rent allowance from an autonomous body’s budget has no use for the Government of the Punjab”.Following this, the GCU Assistant Treasurer paid the outstanding amount on Dec 23, 2008, a copy of the said challan is also available with The News. When contacted Additional Chief Secretary Javed Aslam said as the GCU was an autonomous institution, its VC was not entitled to accommodation belonging to S&GAD on normal rent. He said the government recovered outstanding amount as penal rent at 60 per cent of the pay since Dr Khalid Aftab had only been paying normal rent since he became the GCU VC. When contacted Dr Khalid Aftab refused to comment.
Source: The News International
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Young students have it tough
By Khalid Khattak
ONE of the bitter facts about primary (Class-5) and middle standard (Class-8) annual examinations, scheduled in February 2009, is that the young candidates will attempt the exams based on knowledge they have gained in four months.These students were supposed to take annual examinations after attending their schools for one full academic year but change in start of academic session has now put these young minds in trouble. Such a disappointing situation aptly exposes what happens when the stakeholders are not consulted in policymaking. A few years ago, the federal government had changed its policy regarding start of academic session from September following which admission season started to commence from March. However soon after the said decision, provinces started to raise concern over the change on the plea under September-start session exams were conducted in hot seasons like May and June.The government had to face a lot of criticism and finally the decision was reverted and it was agreed that from 2009 onward academic session would commence from March across the country. It is because of this change that those who were admitted to schools in September 2008 would be attempting the annual exams of primary and middle standard in February 2009.The unpleasant impact of prolonged loadshedding, owing to prevailing power crisis, is nevertheless another bitter fact in connection with students’ preparation for the exams. Talking to The News parents of a number of students expressed concern in connection with upcoming exams of Class-5 and Class-8 to be conducted on uniform/universal basis across the province by the Punjab Examination Commission (PEC).They said it was strange that students who had attended their schools for almost four months would be examined from a course which was meant to be taught to them during the whole academic year. Muhammad Aleem, a concerned father, said, “It is tragic that stakeholders are not involved in policy making in our country,” adding “That’s why each time a policy is reverted the stakeholders have to suffer.” He said those who got admission in September 2008 were not ready for February 2009 exams. He added if weekly, winter and other holidays were excluded from this period; the students had approximately four months study time.“However the provincial government has no other option but to test the young minds as this year the academic session would commence from March”, he added.Another concerned citizen, Arshad, said the horrific impact of prevailing loadshedding on students’ performance in the upcoming exams could not be ignored. He further said delay in provision of textbooks to the students had also been a concern of poor parents. “All these factors, no doubt, would hamper performance of the students in upcoming exams”, he added.“All these facts exposes as if the government is making mockery of the education system”, he added.Academic circles have also expressed concern over non-involvement of stakeholders in the policy urging the government to always seek input of students and teachers in shaping any educational policy.
Source: The News International
Monday, January 12, 2009
ONE of the bitter facts about primary (Class-5) and middle standard (Class-8) annual examinations, scheduled in February 2009, is that the young candidates will attempt the exams based on knowledge they have gained in four months.These students were supposed to take annual examinations after attending their schools for one full academic year but change in start of academic session has now put these young minds in trouble. Such a disappointing situation aptly exposes what happens when the stakeholders are not consulted in policymaking. A few years ago, the federal government had changed its policy regarding start of academic session from September following which admission season started to commence from March. However soon after the said decision, provinces started to raise concern over the change on the plea under September-start session exams were conducted in hot seasons like May and June.The government had to face a lot of criticism and finally the decision was reverted and it was agreed that from 2009 onward academic session would commence from March across the country. It is because of this change that those who were admitted to schools in September 2008 would be attempting the annual exams of primary and middle standard in February 2009.The unpleasant impact of prolonged loadshedding, owing to prevailing power crisis, is nevertheless another bitter fact in connection with students’ preparation for the exams. Talking to The News parents of a number of students expressed concern in connection with upcoming exams of Class-5 and Class-8 to be conducted on uniform/universal basis across the province by the Punjab Examination Commission (PEC).They said it was strange that students who had attended their schools for almost four months would be examined from a course which was meant to be taught to them during the whole academic year. Muhammad Aleem, a concerned father, said, “It is tragic that stakeholders are not involved in policy making in our country,” adding “That’s why each time a policy is reverted the stakeholders have to suffer.” He said those who got admission in September 2008 were not ready for February 2009 exams. He added if weekly, winter and other holidays were excluded from this period; the students had approximately four months study time.“However the provincial government has no other option but to test the young minds as this year the academic session would commence from March”, he added.Another concerned citizen, Arshad, said the horrific impact of prevailing loadshedding on students’ performance in the upcoming exams could not be ignored. He further said delay in provision of textbooks to the students had also been a concern of poor parents. “All these factors, no doubt, would hamper performance of the students in upcoming exams”, he added.“All these facts exposes as if the government is making mockery of the education system”, he added.Academic circles have also expressed concern over non-involvement of stakeholders in the policy urging the government to always seek input of students and teachers in shaping any educational policy.
Source: The News International
Monday, January 12, 2009
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