Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said students of Daanish schools will prove to be Pakistanis in the real sense and play an active role in the development of the country and service of the masses.
“Setting up of the Daanish schools in backward and far-flung areas is resulting in promotion of education in these areas which will ultimately spread to as every corner of the province. While these Schools are imparting modern knowledge to the children of deprived segments of the society they have also promoted a feeling in them that they have as much right over national resources as the elite, he said, while presiding over 7th meeting of Daanish Schools Authority here on Thursday. MPAs Zaib Jaffar, Rana Muhammad Afzal and Major (retd) Abdul Rehman, Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretaries of Schools and Finance Departments, Vice Chairman Daanish Schools Authority, Vice Chairman Punjab Educational Endowment Fund and other members of the authority attended the meeting. Managing Director Daanish Schools System Yousaf Kamal gave a detailed briefing regarding the project of Daanish schools.
Shahbaz Sharif mentioned that six Daanish schools were imparting modern education to the students in Bahawalpur Division while eight more schools would be set up in Attock, Mianwali, Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan during current year. Giving approval in principle to a special quota for the students of other provinces in Daanish schools, the CM said that it would promote national solidarity and brotherhood in accordance with the policy of Punjab government.
The CM said Pakistan was created for the purpose of ensuring equal rights to all citizens, but while a handful of elite enjoyed all privileges during the last 64 years, the majority of people remained deprived of even basic facilities and the poor were shedding their blood and sweat for national development and progress and it was the responsibility of the society to ensure due returns to them for their labour. “The entire credit for bringing the deprived segments of the society into national mainstream goes to Pakistan Muslim League-N which has diverted resources to the marginalised classes and less-developed areas and laid the foundation of a revolution in education sector by starting the project of Daanish schools,” he asserted, adding that the poorest of the poor students were getting modern education in Daanish schools and the scope of this project would be extended to the whole province.
Issuing instructions for giving a final shape to the financial model of Daanish schools as soon as possible, the CM directed that such individuals should also be inducted in the board of governors of these schools which ha an urge to serve the country and equip the new generation with modern education. He said retired teachers, judges, civil servants and the best individuals from various sectors of life should be selected for this purpose but it should be ensured that bureaucracy and political influence should not have any interference in the management of these schools. He also issued instructions for conducting performance audit of the teachers and students of Daanish schools. He said discipline in students was of vital importance and the students should be trained on proper lines for grooming their personality. “Pakistan is a poor country and government has limited resources; therefore, it cannot afford extravagant expenditure. Six Daanish schools have been set up and in the light of the experience in the construction of Daanish schools, measures should be adopted for curtailing cost of construction of new schools. However, no compromise be made on the quality and standard,” he said, while issuing instructions for taking immediate steps for construction of mosques in Daanish schools and directed that administration of the mosques should be completely free of sectarian prejudices and educate the students in the Quran and Hadith. He directed that starting of second shift in Daanish schools should also be considered and recommendations should be submitted to him in this regard in the next meeting. “Financial assistance is being extended to talented students facing economic problems from the PEEF for pursuing their academic activities and lakhs of students of all the four provinces as well as Azad Kashmir are benefiting from this fund. The fund had been set up with a sum of Rs four billions and an amount of Rs 2 billion is being added every year,” he said, adding that establishment of the PEE Fund was a revolutionary step for the uplift of education sector and helping talented students complete their education; therefore it should continue.
He added that quota for the students of other provinces should also be reserved in Daanish schools for promotion of national solidarity and brotherhood and a policy should soon be evolved for this purpose. He mentioned that five percent quota had already been allocated for students of Cholistan in these schools. “Students of other provinces are also included in the programme of the Punjab government of sending position-holders of the province to the prestigious universities of the world and now a quota should be reserved in the Daanish schools for students of other provinces as well,” he said.
He commended the services of Yousaf Kamal and other members of the authority, and said they were engaged in a noble cause.
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 16
Punjab govt misses enrolment, dropout targets in schools
The Punjab government is facing a gigantic task at hand to deal with ensuring 100 per cent enrolment and curtailing ever-consistent trend of dropouts from primary and high public-sector education institutions respectively, which are equally facing lack of facilities and shortage of teachers.
Secondly, after the passage of the 18th amendment from the parliament, responsibilities of the education sector have been devolved to the provincial governments, but none of the dispensations, including Punjab, has initiated legislation in their respective parliamentary houses despite a lapse of one year.
Observed speakers at a seminar ‘Right to Free Education: Constitutional Obligations for Punjab’ held here on Monday at a local hotel jointly by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the Punjab government. Representative to Pakistan of UNESCO Dr Kozue Kay Nagata set the tone of the seminar in her opening remarks, and concluded by depicting hope for actualising the desired targets “seeing sincerity and working of the Punjab government”. Minister Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman did not turn up to deliver the concluding address.
Secretary Literacy and Basic Education Department Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik, while speaking on ‘Situation Analysis of Education in Punjab: Challenges and Issues’, talked frankly about the problems confronted by his government, efforts of the political leadership, overall development context, and role of education in social and economic development.
Dr Malik mentioned that the educational situation was not ideal because of high dropouts, that is, out of 40 per cent students reaching class-IV, 77 per cent never opt for obtaining the matriculation certificate.
About the legislative responsibilities of the provincial government, he mentioned that curriculum, syllabi, planning, policy, Islamic education and standards were with the provincial dispensation, while there was a need to improve interprovincial coordination as well. He told the audience that the Punjab government would be tabling the Right to Compulsory Education Bill 2011 in the Assembly soon.
About enrolment, he said with 15 per cent increase in education budget, 100 per cent enrolment could be achieved in 2024-25, with 20 per cent increase it could be done in 2019-20, and with 25 per cent increase in education budget, 100 per cent enrolment could be achieved in 2015-16. “Rs 3387 billion for the last, Rs 3895bn for 2019-20, and Rs 4064bn are required for achieving 100 enrolment rate of 5-16 years of population by 2015-16,” he mentioned, adding that achievement of targets was closely linked to resource absorptive capacity. While quoting a research, he admitted that the system lacked capacity to efficiently absorb even the available financial resources though the education sector had suffered from persistent and acute under-investment. “Pakistan ranks amongst the bottom five countries of world, so far as public expenditure on education, as a percentage of total public spending is concerned,” he quoted a source.
While speaking about the missing facilities, Dr Malik said 40 per cent of public schools at primary, elementary and secondary level, lack basic facilities like drinking water, 17 per cent had no roofs, 39 per cent were without drinking water, 62 per cent without electricity, 50 per cent without toilet facilities and 46 per cent did not have boundary wall.
However, he commended provincial political leadership for putting its foot forward to do the best for the sector. “We need to go extra miles, and the call is: education for all and by all,” he said, while hoping to actualise Millennium Development Goals.
Secretary Education Department (Schools) Muhammad Aslam Kamboh talked about the budgetary allocations, and wanted that these should be linked to the materialisation of the goals. He said the government was making appointments on merit, while handsome salaries were being offered to teachers.
Secretary General UNESCO Pakistan Muhammad Dawood said the largest illiterate population of Pakistan was in Punjab, while the problem was acute in Southern Punjab and rural areas. He also talked at length about ‘pulls and pushes of the influential’ causing damage to the sector, and impediments to legislation.
UNESCO’s Arshad Saeed Khan asserted that implementation for Article 25-A of the constitution – The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law – was linked to further provincial legislation of the Education Act and framing of rulers, but no province had achieved this. He further mentioned that 40 per cent children of poor parents did not go to school, and development of up-town schools versus improperly maintained public sector institutes was creating bifurcation in the system, which would ultimately lead to division in the society. “Hence equitable free standardised education should be available to all,” he demanding, while enlisting various parliamentary acts awaiting implementation after a passage of decades even. After elaborating various trends of non-enrolment and dropouts, he observed, “keeping these consistent trends in mind, unless exemplary steps are taken, only 70 per cent enrolment can be made possible by 2015.”
Secondly, after the passage of the 18th amendment from the parliament, responsibilities of the education sector have been devolved to the provincial governments, but none of the dispensations, including Punjab, has initiated legislation in their respective parliamentary houses despite a lapse of one year.
Observed speakers at a seminar ‘Right to Free Education: Constitutional Obligations for Punjab’ held here on Monday at a local hotel jointly by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the Punjab government. Representative to Pakistan of UNESCO Dr Kozue Kay Nagata set the tone of the seminar in her opening remarks, and concluded by depicting hope for actualising the desired targets “seeing sincerity and working of the Punjab government”. Minister Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman did not turn up to deliver the concluding address.
Secretary Literacy and Basic Education Department Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik, while speaking on ‘Situation Analysis of Education in Punjab: Challenges and Issues’, talked frankly about the problems confronted by his government, efforts of the political leadership, overall development context, and role of education in social and economic development.
Dr Malik mentioned that the educational situation was not ideal because of high dropouts, that is, out of 40 per cent students reaching class-IV, 77 per cent never opt for obtaining the matriculation certificate.
About the legislative responsibilities of the provincial government, he mentioned that curriculum, syllabi, planning, policy, Islamic education and standards were with the provincial dispensation, while there was a need to improve interprovincial coordination as well. He told the audience that the Punjab government would be tabling the Right to Compulsory Education Bill 2011 in the Assembly soon.
About enrolment, he said with 15 per cent increase in education budget, 100 per cent enrolment could be achieved in 2024-25, with 20 per cent increase it could be done in 2019-20, and with 25 per cent increase in education budget, 100 per cent enrolment could be achieved in 2015-16. “Rs 3387 billion for the last, Rs 3895bn for 2019-20, and Rs 4064bn are required for achieving 100 enrolment rate of 5-16 years of population by 2015-16,” he mentioned, adding that achievement of targets was closely linked to resource absorptive capacity. While quoting a research, he admitted that the system lacked capacity to efficiently absorb even the available financial resources though the education sector had suffered from persistent and acute under-investment. “Pakistan ranks amongst the bottom five countries of world, so far as public expenditure on education, as a percentage of total public spending is concerned,” he quoted a source.
While speaking about the missing facilities, Dr Malik said 40 per cent of public schools at primary, elementary and secondary level, lack basic facilities like drinking water, 17 per cent had no roofs, 39 per cent were without drinking water, 62 per cent without electricity, 50 per cent without toilet facilities and 46 per cent did not have boundary wall.
However, he commended provincial political leadership for putting its foot forward to do the best for the sector. “We need to go extra miles, and the call is: education for all and by all,” he said, while hoping to actualise Millennium Development Goals.
Secretary Education Department (Schools) Muhammad Aslam Kamboh talked about the budgetary allocations, and wanted that these should be linked to the materialisation of the goals. He said the government was making appointments on merit, while handsome salaries were being offered to teachers.
Secretary General UNESCO Pakistan Muhammad Dawood said the largest illiterate population of Pakistan was in Punjab, while the problem was acute in Southern Punjab and rural areas. He also talked at length about ‘pulls and pushes of the influential’ causing damage to the sector, and impediments to legislation.
UNESCO’s Arshad Saeed Khan asserted that implementation for Article 25-A of the constitution – The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law – was linked to further provincial legislation of the Education Act and framing of rulers, but no province had achieved this. He further mentioned that 40 per cent children of poor parents did not go to school, and development of up-town schools versus improperly maintained public sector institutes was creating bifurcation in the system, which would ultimately lead to division in the society. “Hence equitable free standardised education should be available to all,” he demanding, while enlisting various parliamentary acts awaiting implementation after a passage of decades even. After elaborating various trends of non-enrolment and dropouts, he observed, “keeping these consistent trends in mind, unless exemplary steps are taken, only 70 per cent enrolment can be made possible by 2015.”
Saturday, August 13
Govt yet to fill vacant seats of school teachers
In one of the prioritised sectors of the Punjab government, the incumbent dispensation has failed to fill vacant seats in schools, and institutions’ buildings are either in dilapidated condition or are yet to be completed despite a lapse of three years.
Also sports facilities are found missing from the public sector schools, which have been further depleted because of illegal occupation of grounds. Moreover, the school tournaments have almost become non-existent, while the government is yet to take tangible steps in this regard.
This came to the fore when the Punjab Assembly on Friday took the Question-Hour on Education Department (Schools). Provincial Minister Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman was repeatedly told by the members about the wrong answers submitted by the department, who ultimately mentioned that District Officer-Education and Executive District Officer-Education of district Chiniot had been suspended and issued show-cause notice respectively. He also conceded that the answer to the query of PPP’s Syed Hassan Murtaza was wrong. When the minister did not hesitate in admitting the mistake, two members raised voice of ‘fixed match’ to which neither the minister or the mover paid heed.
Earlier, PML-N’s Waseem Qadir – a player of hockey and having supervised matches as international umpire in Norway – grilled the minister by asserting that the game was being ignored by the government, and only two percent of the official version was being done, while most of the talk was in the papers only. PPP’s Fauzia Behram demanded that the government should have exact knowledge about the sports in order to have concrete decisions aimed at gaining positive results.
The Minister maintained that his government was doing its best to keep the games on track, and more funds would be given to the sector this year in comparison to the last year when Rs 170 million were allocated. “It was primarily because of the floods that the government could not pay due attention to the area last year,” asserted the Minister.
While replying to a question about number of vacant seats in schools, the Minister mentioned that in Lahore only, 37 seats of science teachers were vacant in 27 secondary schools, which were not filled yet because of transfer, promotion or retirement. “The draft of the recruitment policy 2011-12 as per vacancy position across Punjab is ready, and will be sent to the Chief Minister soon for his nod,” he told the House.
To another question, the Minister mentioned that the government was on course to fill 4286 slots of information technology teachers.
The House was also told that a mill owner had occupied playground of Government Nishat Model Middle School Faisalabad since 1988, and so far the case was pending with the civil court.
Mian Mujtaba also mentioned that the government was trying to provide facilities to the public sector under a phased-programme, and funds had been diverted to the district government for taking care of the matter. Also District Steering Committees, headed by the District Coordination Committees, had been constituted for handling the issue.
Also sports facilities are found missing from the public sector schools, which have been further depleted because of illegal occupation of grounds. Moreover, the school tournaments have almost become non-existent, while the government is yet to take tangible steps in this regard.
This came to the fore when the Punjab Assembly on Friday took the Question-Hour on Education Department (Schools). Provincial Minister Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman was repeatedly told by the members about the wrong answers submitted by the department, who ultimately mentioned that District Officer-Education and Executive District Officer-Education of district Chiniot had been suspended and issued show-cause notice respectively. He also conceded that the answer to the query of PPP’s Syed Hassan Murtaza was wrong. When the minister did not hesitate in admitting the mistake, two members raised voice of ‘fixed match’ to which neither the minister or the mover paid heed.
Earlier, PML-N’s Waseem Qadir – a player of hockey and having supervised matches as international umpire in Norway – grilled the minister by asserting that the game was being ignored by the government, and only two percent of the official version was being done, while most of the talk was in the papers only. PPP’s Fauzia Behram demanded that the government should have exact knowledge about the sports in order to have concrete decisions aimed at gaining positive results.
The Minister maintained that his government was doing its best to keep the games on track, and more funds would be given to the sector this year in comparison to the last year when Rs 170 million were allocated. “It was primarily because of the floods that the government could not pay due attention to the area last year,” asserted the Minister.
While replying to a question about number of vacant seats in schools, the Minister mentioned that in Lahore only, 37 seats of science teachers were vacant in 27 secondary schools, which were not filled yet because of transfer, promotion or retirement. “The draft of the recruitment policy 2011-12 as per vacancy position across Punjab is ready, and will be sent to the Chief Minister soon for his nod,” he told the House.
To another question, the Minister mentioned that the government was on course to fill 4286 slots of information technology teachers.
The House was also told that a mill owner had occupied playground of Government Nishat Model Middle School Faisalabad since 1988, and so far the case was pending with the civil court.
Mian Mujtaba also mentioned that the government was trying to provide facilities to the public sector under a phased-programme, and funds had been diverted to the district government for taking care of the matter. Also District Steering Committees, headed by the District Coordination Committees, had been constituted for handling the issue.
Thursday, December 23
KC gives admissions to 3rd divisioners
Kinnaird College for Women has blatantly violated its admission policy of granting admissions to students in Intermediate since even the third divisioners have ‘found their way’ to the premier institute in gross violation of the approved policy of the College, the Higher Education Commission, and the Punjab government.
Secondly, sources have also confided that while granting admissions against special categories – mainly sports, minorities, O-Level, kinship – merit was again violated ‘for reasons better known to certain players’. As per the documents, even after the closing date, the admissions were made. Despite this, the College also failed in filling 1400 allocated seats falling short by 430 students, which raises questions about level of interest of the College administration. Also, so far only 826 students have been registered with the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Lahore.
The admissions policy 2010 of the College clearly states that the principles include merit – all students must meet admission criteria – fairness and consistency across all the programmes. This policy was based on observations of an inquiry tribunal constituted by Punjab government, headed by AZK Sherdil and later a Fact-Finding Committee of KC’s Board of Governors on admissions of 2009, and the BoG gave its approval on May 10, 2010. However, quite a large number of admissions made this year are in total violation of the approved policy of the College and the Higher Education Commission.
According to the College Admission Policy 2010, the minimum eligibility criterion for reserved seats against special categories was set at 5 per cent lower than the required minimum for open merit seats. For pre-medical and pre-engineering, 892 marks on open merit, while 840 marks were fixed for reserved seats. For ICS Physics and Stats, FA General Science and Humanities, and ICOM, the bar was 787 marks and 735 marks respectively for open and categories merit.
The slight reduction of marks for reserved seats is allowed to facilitate falling in categories of minorities, sports and disabled. However, in spite of offering some reserved seats with lowered criterion, the College, amongst other violations, admitted students with up to 300 marks lower than the minimum level. The documents show that approximately 100 students, falling below the minimum criterion, have been given admission. A few glaring examples are: Fizza Chaudhary 499 marks, Maliha Ikram 544, Faryal Tansir 639, Qurat-ul-ain 607, Anum Pervaiz 545, Aleena Tariq 603, Hira Athar 525, Iram Nawaz 452, Maham Liaqat 505, Maryam Khokhar 566, Jennifer Joseph 543, Rehan Aslam 419, Rubab Naeem 491 and Sadia Lal with 519 marks.
For pre-Medical seats, among other students with lower grades, Gurdeep Kaur with 743 marks and Dina Shafqat with 783 marks also got admission.
On the other hand, irregularities in merit lists and allocation of shifts and majors were also detected. As per the first merit list (Minorities), Anum Nadeem, Hina Gulab and Mahum Sikandar with 611, 655 and 605 marks respectively given admission in ICS Stats but were shifted to Morning classes, obviously having higher merit. Other examples are of Jennifer Joseph 543, Jassmine John 574, and Persicla Kanwal Younis 612 of FA Humanities, who were also shifted to Morning classes.
Interestingly, students enumerated in the second merit list have higher marks than the first list. Ayesha Sabir and Sabab James with 653 and 676 marks respectively fall in this category.
Moreover, there are cases of illegal registering of students with the BISE, whose names were not mentioned in merit the lists. These include: Uraisha Khan 636 marks, Iram Nawaz 452, Maryam Khokhar 566, Rehan Aslam 419 marks, Sehrish George 500, Sehar Ilyas 478 and Shashai Naeem 690 marks.
Principal KC Dr. Rukhsana David doubted the facts, and asserted that there were categories for which the merit was lowered since other factors were also considered. However, while asserting that she needed to see documents, she did not come up clearly with any statement when she was quizzed whether the admission policy was violated or not.
Secondly, sources have also confided that while granting admissions against special categories – mainly sports, minorities, O-Level, kinship – merit was again violated ‘for reasons better known to certain players’. As per the documents, even after the closing date, the admissions were made. Despite this, the College also failed in filling 1400 allocated seats falling short by 430 students, which raises questions about level of interest of the College administration. Also, so far only 826 students have been registered with the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Lahore.
The admissions policy 2010 of the College clearly states that the principles include merit – all students must meet admission criteria – fairness and consistency across all the programmes. This policy was based on observations of an inquiry tribunal constituted by Punjab government, headed by AZK Sherdil and later a Fact-Finding Committee of KC’s Board of Governors on admissions of 2009, and the BoG gave its approval on May 10, 2010. However, quite a large number of admissions made this year are in total violation of the approved policy of the College and the Higher Education Commission.
According to the College Admission Policy 2010, the minimum eligibility criterion for reserved seats against special categories was set at 5 per cent lower than the required minimum for open merit seats. For pre-medical and pre-engineering, 892 marks on open merit, while 840 marks were fixed for reserved seats. For ICS Physics and Stats, FA General Science and Humanities, and ICOM, the bar was 787 marks and 735 marks respectively for open and categories merit.
The slight reduction of marks for reserved seats is allowed to facilitate falling in categories of minorities, sports and disabled. However, in spite of offering some reserved seats with lowered criterion, the College, amongst other violations, admitted students with up to 300 marks lower than the minimum level. The documents show that approximately 100 students, falling below the minimum criterion, have been given admission. A few glaring examples are: Fizza Chaudhary 499 marks, Maliha Ikram 544, Faryal Tansir 639, Qurat-ul-ain 607, Anum Pervaiz 545, Aleena Tariq 603, Hira Athar 525, Iram Nawaz 452, Maham Liaqat 505, Maryam Khokhar 566, Jennifer Joseph 543, Rehan Aslam 419, Rubab Naeem 491 and Sadia Lal with 519 marks.
For pre-Medical seats, among other students with lower grades, Gurdeep Kaur with 743 marks and Dina Shafqat with 783 marks also got admission.
On the other hand, irregularities in merit lists and allocation of shifts and majors were also detected. As per the first merit list (Minorities), Anum Nadeem, Hina Gulab and Mahum Sikandar with 611, 655 and 605 marks respectively given admission in ICS Stats but were shifted to Morning classes, obviously having higher merit. Other examples are of Jennifer Joseph 543, Jassmine John 574, and Persicla Kanwal Younis 612 of FA Humanities, who were also shifted to Morning classes.
Interestingly, students enumerated in the second merit list have higher marks than the first list. Ayesha Sabir and Sabab James with 653 and 676 marks respectively fall in this category.
Moreover, there are cases of illegal registering of students with the BISE, whose names were not mentioned in merit the lists. These include: Uraisha Khan 636 marks, Iram Nawaz 452, Maryam Khokhar 566, Rehan Aslam 419 marks, Sehrish George 500, Sehar Ilyas 478 and Shashai Naeem 690 marks.
Principal KC Dr. Rukhsana David doubted the facts, and asserted that there were categories for which the merit was lowered since other factors were also considered. However, while asserting that she needed to see documents, she did not come up clearly with any statement when she was quizzed whether the admission policy was violated or not.
Friday, October 22
4500 posts of lecturers lying vacant in Punjab
The Punjab Assembly on Thursday was told that in all the districts of the province posts of professors and lecturers were lying vacant in the public sector colleges, and the government is yet to chalk out a plan to fill the slots.
Minister Excise and Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, who also holds portfolio of Education minister, during the Question-Hour regarding the Higher Education Department, admitted that a large number of posts were vacant, and recommendations had been made to the Punjab Public Service Commission for filling the slots. “However, the Commission takes almost a year to complete the process, which makes it further difficult to employ teachers on urgent basis, and other modes of recruitment are being used,” he said, while mentioning that the government had regularised lecturers after qualification credentials. “It is incorrect to assert that the teachers are recruited by the PPSC initially for five years, and instead of regularising them, the contract is further extended. Actually, they are regularised after examining their tangible qualification credentials and track-record of service,” he maintained, while replying to a question of PPP’s Riffat Sultana Dar. The Minister also said the previous govt had started the policy of making recruitments on contract basis. “However, no directions have been made by the Competent Authority in this regard,” he added.
PML-N’s Ijaz Ahmed Khan quizzed the govt about the appointments made as per the ministerial staff quota between January 1 2006 to May 2009, details about the quota and direct recruitments, and their qualifications. He was of the view that the answer was contrary to facts. Seeing this, the Minister requested the Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan to refer the matter to the Standing Committee on Education, which was done immediately. For another query by the same member about teachers’ qualifications hired by the Punjab University during the same period, both the questioner – ‘concealment of facts’ – and the Minister – ‘dissatisfied with the reply’ – the Deputy Speaker referred the matter to the Standing Committee and directed that action should be taken against the guilty after the findings of the Committee. However, the Minister negated the assertion that any posts were being filled sans actualising the merit.
To Khawaja Muhammad Islam’s query about colleges in Faisalabad and number of vacant posts, the Minister told the House that in 16 colleges, 300 posts were yet to be filled. Secondly, he also mentioned that 247 slots were vacant in 12 colleges of district Bahawalnagar.
While replying to a question of Opposition’s Khadija Omer about giving promotion to teachers, the Minister told the House that 365 seats of Assistant Professors (Males), APs (females) 281, Associate Professors (Males) 165, Ass Prof (females) 153 and nine posts of professors (Males) were vacant. “Like other departments, the HED is also making promotion on fitness-cum-senior basis, and the time scale is not actualised in any department of the province,” he said, while mentioning the departmental promotion committee meetings were being held regularly for promoting the teachers.
Minister Excise and Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, who also holds portfolio of Education minister, during the Question-Hour regarding the Higher Education Department, admitted that a large number of posts were vacant, and recommendations had been made to the Punjab Public Service Commission for filling the slots. “However, the Commission takes almost a year to complete the process, which makes it further difficult to employ teachers on urgent basis, and other modes of recruitment are being used,” he said, while mentioning that the government had regularised lecturers after qualification credentials. “It is incorrect to assert that the teachers are recruited by the PPSC initially for five years, and instead of regularising them, the contract is further extended. Actually, they are regularised after examining their tangible qualification credentials and track-record of service,” he maintained, while replying to a question of PPP’s Riffat Sultana Dar. The Minister also said the previous govt had started the policy of making recruitments on contract basis. “However, no directions have been made by the Competent Authority in this regard,” he added.
PML-N’s Ijaz Ahmed Khan quizzed the govt about the appointments made as per the ministerial staff quota between January 1 2006 to May 2009, details about the quota and direct recruitments, and their qualifications. He was of the view that the answer was contrary to facts. Seeing this, the Minister requested the Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan to refer the matter to the Standing Committee on Education, which was done immediately. For another query by the same member about teachers’ qualifications hired by the Punjab University during the same period, both the questioner – ‘concealment of facts’ – and the Minister – ‘dissatisfied with the reply’ – the Deputy Speaker referred the matter to the Standing Committee and directed that action should be taken against the guilty after the findings of the Committee. However, the Minister negated the assertion that any posts were being filled sans actualising the merit.
To Khawaja Muhammad Islam’s query about colleges in Faisalabad and number of vacant posts, the Minister told the House that in 16 colleges, 300 posts were yet to be filled. Secondly, he also mentioned that 247 slots were vacant in 12 colleges of district Bahawalnagar.
While replying to a question of Opposition’s Khadija Omer about giving promotion to teachers, the Minister told the House that 365 seats of Assistant Professors (Males), APs (females) 281, Associate Professors (Males) 165, Ass Prof (females) 153 and nine posts of professors (Males) were vacant. “Like other departments, the HED is also making promotion on fitness-cum-senior basis, and the time scale is not actualised in any department of the province,” he said, while mentioning the departmental promotion committee meetings were being held regularly for promoting the teachers.
Thursday, September 23
2-year graduation slashed
The Punjab government has shuts its doors on students seeking admission in 2-year B.Com programme in all 26 colleges of the province where 4-year BS (Honours) programme has been initiated from academic year 2010-11 for graduates.
As per sources, a letter from the Secretary Higher Education has been sent to all the principals of these institutes in which the latter have been directed to stop admission in the 2-year programme, and further instructing them to give admissions to students in the 4-year programme.
This has caused anxiety among students and their parents since number of students would be drastically reduced though the administrations of these colleges aver that they would be giving admission to around 1400 students in each college, and would be able to get nod from the Punjab University, which is being deemed impossible by adversaries of this approach, who think that the University would hesitate in extending affiliation to such a large number of students for 4-year degree. They also doubt the assertions of colleges’ administrations that the latter are in contact with the University in this regard. “Succinctly, the University has not given affiliation to three colleges of the city – MAO, Civil Lines and Science College – but the government has allowed them to proceed with admissions. In case, the University will not accept the request of these colleges, what will be the fate of these students?” questioned the source. “It will be another crisis, and students will be on road certainly,” he predicted.
The source mentioned that the Punjab University has allowed the Government Muhammaden Anglo-Oriental College to give admissions to about 1500 students in 2-year programme, but now when the College would not give admissions to this number of students, then they would be made to get admission in private institutions, who would be charging huge fees. “This is in stark contradiction to the government’s claims of revolutionising the education sector where an equal opportunity is available to all, especially in the higher education sector,” averred the source.
Principal MAO College Syed Irfan Hussain Zaidi, while confirming the fact that the Secretary HED as written a letter for giving admission to students in 4-year programme instead of 2-year one, said the College would be entertaining about 1450 students in two programmes of BBA and B.Com, and the College administration was in talks with the Punjab University for procuring affiliation, which would be demanded according to the facilities at the College campus. He was optimistic that the University would accede to the demand of affiliation.
As per sources, a letter from the Secretary Higher Education has been sent to all the principals of these institutes in which the latter have been directed to stop admission in the 2-year programme, and further instructing them to give admissions to students in the 4-year programme.
This has caused anxiety among students and their parents since number of students would be drastically reduced though the administrations of these colleges aver that they would be giving admission to around 1400 students in each college, and would be able to get nod from the Punjab University, which is being deemed impossible by adversaries of this approach, who think that the University would hesitate in extending affiliation to such a large number of students for 4-year degree. They also doubt the assertions of colleges’ administrations that the latter are in contact with the University in this regard. “Succinctly, the University has not given affiliation to three colleges of the city – MAO, Civil Lines and Science College – but the government has allowed them to proceed with admissions. In case, the University will not accept the request of these colleges, what will be the fate of these students?” questioned the source. “It will be another crisis, and students will be on road certainly,” he predicted.
The source mentioned that the Punjab University has allowed the Government Muhammaden Anglo-Oriental College to give admissions to about 1500 students in 2-year programme, but now when the College would not give admissions to this number of students, then they would be made to get admission in private institutions, who would be charging huge fees. “This is in stark contradiction to the government’s claims of revolutionising the education sector where an equal opportunity is available to all, especially in the higher education sector,” averred the source.
Principal MAO College Syed Irfan Hussain Zaidi, while confirming the fact that the Secretary HED as written a letter for giving admission to students in 4-year programme instead of 2-year one, said the College would be entertaining about 1450 students in two programmes of BBA and B.Com, and the College administration was in talks with the Punjab University for procuring affiliation, which would be demanded according to the facilities at the College campus. He was optimistic that the University would accede to the demand of affiliation.
Saturday, September 18
4-year BS (Honours) irks teachers, students
Though government has gone ahead with the recently launched 4-year BS (Honours) programme, but it has generated strong reaction among teachers and students alike since they consider it discriminatory and riddled with problems, as it has been implemented in 26 colleges while neglecting the rest.
Now, these colleges have virtually closed admissions of students seeking admission in 2-year programme since the 4-year BS (Honours) programme has been initiated from academic year 2010-11. This has been done so after a letter from the Secretary Higher Education as per which these colleges have been directed to stop admission in the 2-year programme, and instructing them to give admissions to students in 4-year programme only.
Seeing this, teachers and students have resorted to protests, demanding that the old system should continue since the government was ill-prepared to carryout the programme. Secondly, they also see that the number of admissions would be drastically reduced though these colleges’ administrators negate it.
About the impending affiliation from seven universities, the administrators are optimistic that they would get nod for this, which is being deemed impossible by adversaries, who think that these universities – especially when PPP’s governor is the Chancellor of these institutions – will hesitate in extending affiliations. It is also doubt that colleges’ administrators were in contact with the universities in this regard.
“Since these colleges are in the process of giving admissions to these students, and if the universities slack in granting affiliations, then there will be another crisis,” opined a teacher, who sees blatant contradictions in the government’s claims of revolutionising the education sector where an equal opportunity is available to all, especially in the higher education sector. “This is like bifurcating the public sector education, and creating elite among the educated from these institutes, who will get 4-year degrees, while the rest will be the same old ones,” averred the teacher.
He also pointed out for the 4-year programme the government is yet to develop an infrastructure, including labs, hostels and rooms. “Already these colleges are facing dearth of classrooms, and when these students will be there for four years and more following them, then these colleges will not have space to accommodate them,” he observed.
In the same vein, he pointed out the colleges do not have enough strength of teachers to cater to the ever-growing number of students. “So far, the government has not recruited educationists despite the fact that a large number of vacancies are lying vacant,” he maintained.
Moreover, ahead of the launch of the programme, the Education Department has already notified Boards of Governors – comprise nine official members and seven non-official members – in all 26 colleges selected for the ambitious plan of imparting quality education. “This also problematic area considering that fact that quite a few members have less to do with education. Consequently, they will their own means and issues to deal instead of contributing to the education sector,” opined the educationist.
The BoGs will now prepare rules and regulations for the programme. However, for their convenience, the Education Department has already drafted a document while improving the already available rules and regulations of the autonomous institutes.
Tuesday, September 14
MAO College violates HEC rules
When the Punjab government is attaching huge importance to merit and professionals, there is one public sector college just a stone’s throw from Secretary Higher Education’s office, where head of the Psychology Department has taken over the Mass Communication Department, and the qualified teachers have been relegated to redundancy.
As per sources, in gross violations of rules and regulations of the Higher Education Commission, the administration of Government MAO College has notified Tauqir Saleem Khan, head Psychology Department, to run the affairs of the Mass Communication Department as Chairman. Interestingly, in the process the qualified staff of the media studies has been neglected, which seems to be a whimsically done in order to put a favourite in a higher place.
Since the provincial government has also launched BS (Honours) 4-year programme in 26 public sector institutions across the Punjab, and this particular College is also included in it, while the Mass Communication Department will also run the same programme. “One can gauge the interest and sincerity of the government officials when the concerned have appointed a psychologist as head of the Department sans any thought process about which the latter might not know even the ABC,” commented a senior teacher, seeking anonymity.
Earlier, the newly-placed ‘bunch of great brains’ has already flip-flopped with the admission and entry test dates. Even poor at date counting, the College administration lost its way while announcing the dates for the submission of forms and holding of the entry tests for almost all departments of the College, including the Mass Communication and Psychology departments. Twice the advertisements were published in the national dailies, and even then the administration failed to hold tests as per the announced dates since these were done during the Eid holidays. Apparently, no body seemed to have questioned the College administration about causing loss to the public exchequer by getting advertisements published twice. Resultantly, in contrary to the published dates, tests were held as per some ‘personally convenient’ dates prior to the announced ones, while a large number of students were kept in darkness about it. However, the admission process continued and said to have been completed as well, which has raised doubts about the transparency of the admissions in the minds of the people, who are seeing some method behind the reckless changing of dates.
However, according to the source, the College administration is thinking to conduct the tests again, whereas it preconcludes the possibility that Tauqir Saleem Khan will keep on holding the forte of the Mass Communication Department, while the qualified staff will be neglected till the HEC and the Higher Education Departments – provided it wakes up – act to mend the wrongs.
As per sources, in gross violations of rules and regulations of the Higher Education Commission, the administration of Government MAO College has notified Tauqir Saleem Khan, head Psychology Department, to run the affairs of the Mass Communication Department as Chairman. Interestingly, in the process the qualified staff of the media studies has been neglected, which seems to be a whimsically done in order to put a favourite in a higher place.
Since the provincial government has also launched BS (Honours) 4-year programme in 26 public sector institutions across the Punjab, and this particular College is also included in it, while the Mass Communication Department will also run the same programme. “One can gauge the interest and sincerity of the government officials when the concerned have appointed a psychologist as head of the Department sans any thought process about which the latter might not know even the ABC,” commented a senior teacher, seeking anonymity.
Earlier, the newly-placed ‘bunch of great brains’ has already flip-flopped with the admission and entry test dates. Even poor at date counting, the College administration lost its way while announcing the dates for the submission of forms and holding of the entry tests for almost all departments of the College, including the Mass Communication and Psychology departments. Twice the advertisements were published in the national dailies, and even then the administration failed to hold tests as per the announced dates since these were done during the Eid holidays. Apparently, no body seemed to have questioned the College administration about causing loss to the public exchequer by getting advertisements published twice. Resultantly, in contrary to the published dates, tests were held as per some ‘personally convenient’ dates prior to the announced ones, while a large number of students were kept in darkness about it. However, the admission process continued and said to have been completed as well, which has raised doubts about the transparency of the admissions in the minds of the people, who are seeing some method behind the reckless changing of dates.
However, according to the source, the College administration is thinking to conduct the tests again, whereas it preconcludes the possibility that Tauqir Saleem Khan will keep on holding the forte of the Mass Communication Department, while the qualified staff will be neglected till the HEC and the Higher Education Departments – provided it wakes up – act to mend the wrongs.
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