Karachi, April: The fracas that was unleashed on March 27 on account of postponement of an SSC examination paer must be taken as the final warning bell. A whispering campaign about the sharp declining standard of education under the Board of Secondary Education Karachi's (BSEK) supervised structure is already ripe And the conduct of examination is the ultimate test for the credibility of this fast crumbling educational edifice.
Whereas damage control actions by the Governor of Sindh were useful, the full remedy desires a sustained action with professional skill and administrative acumen.
The penetration of elements belonging to scattered pressure groups and their affiliates in the educational sector cannot be ignored. The trend germinated during the 1970s and after.
The rise of populist politics and several vested interest groups under its influence; mushrooming growth of private schools with little follow up of the basic school management guidelines; landslide fall in the status, efficiency and performance of government schools; widespread de-motivation amongst school teachers apparently due to very low emoluments and benefits, low status in the society and insecurity of job tenures (for contractual or private appointments) were few of the reasons.
In the same respect, merit in the induction of teachers could not be ensured in most government-run and some private schools. The teacher, the most important building block in the system of education, either became an unwilling worker or an incompetent being. In many cases, the moral and ethical values were greatly tarnished due to the inappropriate conduct of several members of the teaching fraternity.
BSEK's performance was directly affected by this vital handicap because the teaching fraternity had a very significant role in the board's routine work. Course delivery, revision of curricula, invigilation duties, paper setting and checking, tabulation and computation of results were all assignments where the teachers had a direct role. When the rot set in, its disastrous effects eclipsed the overall performance of the primary and secondary level of education. The system of conduct of examination was the worst hit in this backdrop.
There are shelves full in the record rooms of administration with studies and assessments pertinent to the examination system and related matters. Many vital findings have evolved from these deliberations.
It has been found that the school management is a key component in the system. A well-managed school is such which is competent to gauge the educational needs of its intake and nurtures the same in an appropriate way. It is able to professionally examine the curriculum and deliver the same to students in a satisfactory manner. It also bears the capacity to augment any deficiency in the curriculum by providing extra input to pupils in a bid to develop key competencies amongst them.
Hiring well-motivated teachers, maintaining a healthy and congenial environment and ensuring the availability of corresponding material and intellectual resources all come under school management. If the schools become strong and independently managed units, the overall system of education and the performance of the board shall be consolidated. At present, this near ideal scenario appears very remote from reality.
Many educationists believe that the nationalisation of schools in 1972 was a shoddily-executed project. It was believed that quality education shall become accessible to all. In contrast, the schools became dumping yards for politically-motivated appointments, embezzlement of funds and weak internal management.
In other words, they were reduced to unimportant entities from the perspective of bureaucracy. Lack of motivation and absence of accountability led to callousness and boredom among the teachers. These deadly attributes were also passed over to the students. In respect of private schools, very few have been able to maintain any worthwhile quality. In the upper class institutions, the affiliation is normally kept with the British universities for their respective examination system.
The middle class outfits are largely commercially oriented with many short comings. Absence of trained teachers, inappropriate physical space and facilities as well as the money-minded administrations continuously hamper the normal performance of schools. The lower income localities have private schools which are grossly under equipped. While many have a genuinely motivated teaching staff, the basic facilities for the mental and physical development of pupils are simply absent. Those individuals who can afford to supplement academic weaknesses resort to the thriving tuition centres which are certainly not the answer. At best, these educational shops provide orientation and practice about examinations.
The scholastic attainment of students is routinely judged through examination procedures. It is a vital stage in any educational system as it certifies (or otherwise) the capabilities and competencies acquired by the pupils. When marred by corruption or any other form of malpractice, it can lead to the demolition of the entire educational framework.
Symptoms of the prevailing situation in BSEK suggest the same. The feedback acquired from board insiders and concerned stakeholders shed light on many important aspects. There are allegations of the existence of strong collusion between a few board officials and some school managements. The common types of irregularities include leakage of question papers to favourite candidates; admission of fake candidates in the examination premises; facilitation of copying from books/notes uninterrupted; change of answer books; change of seat numbers on the answer books; manipulation in the allocation of examination centres; clandestine usage of mobile phones to obtain prompting from outside sources; harassment of innocent students by invigilations (for bribe); malpractice in checking and totalling and even in the preparation of final result sheets.
The corrupt teachers/school managers/board staffs draw their strength from political and administrative connections. They never fail to act as per the directive of their influential peers in gross violation of the rules, procedures and academic code of conduct.
Institutional dynamics of the board are such that the partners in crime support each other. In certain dire cases, a crackdown is ordered by the competent authority of the board; few heads roll for a while and thereafter the situation returns to "normal". Considering the universal solution to all the problems in the country, the government appointed a retired brigadier to head the board. The rot unfortunately has deepened. Circumstances also suggest that the present rot is more than the normal routine.
Loss of BSEK could become the gain of private boards and alternative systems of education, as stated by the well wishers of the public educational system. This point carries some weight as many prominent schools in Karachi have now obtained affiliation from a private board, legislation of which was promulgated controversially in 2002.
However, the independent educationists are blatantly fastidious on this matter. They demand a complete overhaul of the BSEK, school affiliation criteria and internal working of the schools. As SSC is the foundation block of education, any shortcoming remaining at this level casts an adverse impact upon the higher stages of learning.
Scientific approach with tangible target setting must be applied in reforming BSEK. The induction of qualified and competent academic managers in BSEK must be facilitated. An effective mechanism of affiliation of schools must be worked out where the monitoring of teaching, delivery of curriculum and internal teacher/student performance checks could be documented.
Besides, as the first step towards stemming the malpractice in examinations, the examination centres should be centralised at least on a town wise basis. Well-equipped public (or private) buildings can be acquired for the purpose. Problems of the schools in respect of resource shortages, deficiencies in human resource as well as political interference need to be dealt with effectively.
An overseeing committee of independent educational experts and eminent concerned citizens must be formed to make this institutionally possible. The committee should be entrusted the task of looking at BSEK's internal/external performance and the problems of affiliated schools. The recommendations prepared by the committee must be bolstered and given due strength by way of regulation. This mechanism has worked successfully in various public-sector entities and is likely to generate positive results in this sector also.
By Dr Noman Ahmed - The writer is professor and chairman, Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University, Karachi. Dawn
Monday, April 5, 2010
95 Graduates Of Wah Medical College Receive Degrees Wah Cantt
Wah, Apr 05: As many as 95 graduates of Wah Medical College (WMC) were awarded degrees for the academic session 2009 at the institution's second convocation here Saturday at Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) Hotel.
Chairman POF Board Lt Gen Shujaat Zamir Dar HI (M) St B was the chief guest on the occasion, while Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences, Lahore Prof Dr Malik Hussain Mubashar presided over the convocation.
The best graduates of 2009 were awarded medals, while shields and certificates were distributed among those, who got distinctions and topped the College.
Dr Syeda Sana Bukhari was declared the Best Graduate for 2009, as she topped the University of Health Sciences/College four times and received eight medals during here stay at WMC. The chief guest awarded her a cash award of Rs10,000 while Dr Hafsa Yaqoob and Dr Samreen Ilyas received Rs5,000 each for attaining various distinctions at WMC.
Lt Gen Shujaat Zamir Dar HI (M) St B congratulated the graduates of WMC and the faculty for training them, and appreciated the favourable academic environment of Wah Cantt for educational and academic activities. He emphasised professionalism among the WMC graduates, so that they prove effective in solving the country's health problems in general and Wah Cantt in particular.
The POF chairman further said that most days in an individual's lifetime are quite unremarkable, some are momentous, very few are worth remembering but one is truly unique. "Today is that unique day for you, your parents and your alma mater. Your parents and faculty have put in sustained and sincere efforts to enable you to lead a successful practical life. Now that you have entered the new life full of challenges and opportunities, we expect you to take up these challenges boldly and not to miss opportunities to improve yourself and serve the nation." He urged them to reflect upon our suffering as a nation and orientate themselves in a manner, which emphasises harmony, tolerance and fortitude, for it is not life that matters but the dignity and fortitude one brings to it.
The chairman thanked the honourable Vice Chancellor UHS Prof Dr Malik Hussain Mubashar and all the distinguished guests and parents for gracing the occasion.
Principal WMC Maj Gen (r) Dr Farrukh Sair HI (M) and Dr Mubashar also spoke on the occasion.
Chairman POF Board Lt Gen Shujaat Zamir Dar HI (M) St B was the chief guest on the occasion, while Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences, Lahore Prof Dr Malik Hussain Mubashar presided over the convocation.
The best graduates of 2009 were awarded medals, while shields and certificates were distributed among those, who got distinctions and topped the College.
Dr Syeda Sana Bukhari was declared the Best Graduate for 2009, as she topped the University of Health Sciences/College four times and received eight medals during here stay at WMC. The chief guest awarded her a cash award of Rs10,000 while Dr Hafsa Yaqoob and Dr Samreen Ilyas received Rs5,000 each for attaining various distinctions at WMC.
Lt Gen Shujaat Zamir Dar HI (M) St B congratulated the graduates of WMC and the faculty for training them, and appreciated the favourable academic environment of Wah Cantt for educational and academic activities. He emphasised professionalism among the WMC graduates, so that they prove effective in solving the country's health problems in general and Wah Cantt in particular.
The POF chairman further said that most days in an individual's lifetime are quite unremarkable, some are momentous, very few are worth remembering but one is truly unique. "Today is that unique day for you, your parents and your alma mater. Your parents and faculty have put in sustained and sincere efforts to enable you to lead a successful practical life. Now that you have entered the new life full of challenges and opportunities, we expect you to take up these challenges boldly and not to miss opportunities to improve yourself and serve the nation." He urged them to reflect upon our suffering as a nation and orientate themselves in a manner, which emphasises harmony, tolerance and fortitude, for it is not life that matters but the dignity and fortitude one brings to it.
The chairman thanked the honourable Vice Chancellor UHS Prof Dr Malik Hussain Mubashar and all the distinguished guests and parents for gracing the occasion.
Principal WMC Maj Gen (r) Dr Farrukh Sair HI (M) and Dr Mubashar also spoke on the occasion.
Police Operation Against 'IJT Hooligans' Fails
Lahore, Apr 05: The police operation against a group of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) activists at the Punjab University's Hostel No 16 failed on Sunday due to the late arrival of the police. The IJT activists were involved in the recent violence at the university.
According to sources, PU Resident Officer (RO), Prof Shahid Gul, contacted the Muslim Town DSP at around 2:40 pm to inform him about the presence of wanted people. But the heavy police contingent reached the spot at around 4:40 pm but by that time, the Jamiat activists had managed to escape.
A senior PU official said around 150 policemen had arrived under the supervision of DSP Muhammad Naveed Irshad and SHO Shoaib Khan to carry out the operation. He said the police thoroughly searched the hostel "but it was too late".
A senior PU faculty member, asking not to be named, said it was ironic that the administration did not involve the universityís security guards, which provided an opportunity to the miscreants to escape.
Meanwhile, a PU press statement said the police officials concerned were informed about the presence of the IJT activists at Hostel No 16 around 2:45 pm while the police party, headed by DSP Muhammad Naveed Irshad and SHO Shoaib Khan, raided the hostel at around 4:30 pm.
"The wanted elements had succeeded in escaping at around 4:20 pm due to which no arrests were made," it added. The statement said the PU administration and the boarding students welcomed the operation and expressed the hope that the close liaison between the law enforcement agencies and the university authorities would continue in the future as well and the police force would not rest until the illegal occupants were flushed out of the varsity hostels.
It further said the long-awaited police action against the outside elements in the PU had not only boosted the image of the police for the faculty and students but it would also help speedy restoration of peaceful academic and research atmosphere in the university.
When contacted, RO Shahid Gul said the administration had received information that seven to nine IJT activists were present in Hostel No 16, adding that the information was passed on to the police.
DSP Muhammad Naveed Irshad said as six police reserves were involved, it took around one-and-a-half hours to get ready for the operation. "I did not have such a force at the police station and had to call the force from the police lines," he added.
According to sources, PU Resident Officer (RO), Prof Shahid Gul, contacted the Muslim Town DSP at around 2:40 pm to inform him about the presence of wanted people. But the heavy police contingent reached the spot at around 4:40 pm but by that time, the Jamiat activists had managed to escape.
A senior PU official said around 150 policemen had arrived under the supervision of DSP Muhammad Naveed Irshad and SHO Shoaib Khan to carry out the operation. He said the police thoroughly searched the hostel "but it was too late".
A senior PU faculty member, asking not to be named, said it was ironic that the administration did not involve the universityís security guards, which provided an opportunity to the miscreants to escape.
Meanwhile, a PU press statement said the police officials concerned were informed about the presence of the IJT activists at Hostel No 16 around 2:45 pm while the police party, headed by DSP Muhammad Naveed Irshad and SHO Shoaib Khan, raided the hostel at around 4:30 pm.
"The wanted elements had succeeded in escaping at around 4:20 pm due to which no arrests were made," it added. The statement said the PU administration and the boarding students welcomed the operation and expressed the hope that the close liaison between the law enforcement agencies and the university authorities would continue in the future as well and the police force would not rest until the illegal occupants were flushed out of the varsity hostels.
It further said the long-awaited police action against the outside elements in the PU had not only boosted the image of the police for the faculty and students but it would also help speedy restoration of peaceful academic and research atmosphere in the university.
When contacted, RO Shahid Gul said the administration had received information that seven to nine IJT activists were present in Hostel No 16, adding that the information was passed on to the police.
DSP Muhammad Naveed Irshad said as six police reserves were involved, it took around one-and-a-half hours to get ready for the operation. "I did not have such a force at the police station and had to call the force from the police lines," he added.
Beaconhouse National University Students Upset About Varsity Decision
Lahore: Abrupt decisions by institutions without taking all stakeholders into confidence eventually fall apart and this has exactly happened in case of the Beaconhouse National University.
The BNU administration is facing massive protests by students against its Board of Governor's 'unilateral' decision of combining the School of Liberal Arts (SLA) and the School of Social Sciences (SSS) under one dean.
The SLA students did not accept the merger and protested on varsity campus as well as outside, saying the decision is neither wise nor feasible. The students also displayed posters and placards demanding that they wanted their SLA intact as they felt "they were in safe hands".
There are also reports that the BNU administration has removed SLA dean Naveed Shahzad -- something the varsity administration denies by saying she will continue to head the SLA under a dean looking after both SLA and SSS after their merger.
The protesters, however, suggested that if the BoG wanted to merge the two schools, it should have merged SLA with the School of Media and Communication which was offering courses more relevant to their programme.
They claim that the SSS faculty members are not competent enough to teach the SLA syllabi. The protesters also said the varsity administration should not have taken such a hasty decision affecting three batches currently enrolled.
Respecting the contract between the students and the university, they said, the BNU administration should have taken the decision and advertised it in its prospectus for the new students.
Some varsity teachers have also endorsed the stance of the students. A delegation of students has also submitted a charter of demands to the administration and announced their commitment to oppose the merger.
Now, the students say, they are awaiting the administration's response to their demands.
BNU Vice-Chancellor Sartaj Aziz said he had held a meeting with the faculty of SLA and informed them that the merger proposal was still under consideration and a final decision would be taken in the next few days after a meeting of the BoG.
The BNU administration is facing massive protests by students against its Board of Governor's 'unilateral' decision of combining the School of Liberal Arts (SLA) and the School of Social Sciences (SSS) under one dean.
The SLA students did not accept the merger and protested on varsity campus as well as outside, saying the decision is neither wise nor feasible. The students also displayed posters and placards demanding that they wanted their SLA intact as they felt "they were in safe hands".
There are also reports that the BNU administration has removed SLA dean Naveed Shahzad -- something the varsity administration denies by saying she will continue to head the SLA under a dean looking after both SLA and SSS after their merger.
The protesters, however, suggested that if the BoG wanted to merge the two schools, it should have merged SLA with the School of Media and Communication which was offering courses more relevant to their programme.
They claim that the SSS faculty members are not competent enough to teach the SLA syllabi. The protesters also said the varsity administration should not have taken such a hasty decision affecting three batches currently enrolled.
Respecting the contract between the students and the university, they said, the BNU administration should have taken the decision and advertised it in its prospectus for the new students.
Some varsity teachers have also endorsed the stance of the students. A delegation of students has also submitted a charter of demands to the administration and announced their commitment to oppose the merger.
Now, the students say, they are awaiting the administration's response to their demands.
BNU Vice-Chancellor Sartaj Aziz said he had held a meeting with the faculty of SLA and informed them that the merger proposal was still under consideration and a final decision would be taken in the next few days after a meeting of the BoG.
Fairness In UHS Exams In Doubt Amid Strike
Lahore: The transparency in examination system under the University of Health Sciences is being questioned ahead of various supplementary and allied health sciences exams, scheduled to start on Monday (today), as the staff deputed for conducting exams are on a strike for an indefinite period, leaving the Examination Department with little options to do the job effectively.
It has been learnt that MBBS third and final professional supplementary examinations 2009, and various annual examinations of allied health sciences of the candidates of the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Lahore, will start from Monday (today) and BSc (Hons) examinations are scheduled to start from Tuesday (tomorrow). On the other hand, the entire non-gazetted staff, particularly of Examinations Department including Conduct, Tabulations, Secrecy sections, are on strike for regularisation.
The ongoing strike of the universityís non-gazetted staff had badly affected the official work of the university. However, in order to cope with the extraordinary situation, sources said, the UHS administration had provided reinforcement to the Examinations Department by sparing staff from various departments of the university as well as students of the allied health sciences and MPhil classes for temporary support in conducting the examinations. It has also affected studies and research work of students.
The UHS move has also raised serious doubts among various stakeholders regarding the sanctity and secrecy of the examinations system in the absence of experienced staff to conduct exams in a foolproof manner. It is also learnt that the payments of internal and external examiners were also pending due to the ongoing strike of employees. Meanwhile, the non-gazetted employees of the UHS believed that university administration had been planning to run over the livelihood of nearly 180 grade 1 to 15 employees, protesting for regularisation, and their families after financially killing more than 270 employees since the establishment of the UHS in October 2002.
The UHS had issued a final notice through an advertisement in newspapers whereby it warned all non-gazetted employees to join their duties till April 3, 2010 or face termination from service. The UHS issued fresh warning letters to the employees for failing to join their duties till April 3, 2010, after having already sent their contract letters at their residential addresses.
However, the UHS employees refused to accept the renewed contract letters of the duration of five-year-and-six-months and stood firm in their demand of regularisation of all non-gazetted contract employees in compliance with the Punjab governmentís orders to regularise all the contract employees from grade 1 to 15 in all government institutions, thereby, abolishing the contract policy in the province. They claimed that the UHS administration was trying to harass them through various means as they were contacting their families to force them to join their duties by accepting fresh extensions to their contracts. "Various MNAs and MPAs have also put pressure on our parents to force us to join duties," they alleged, adding that all the employees were, however, determined to continue their protest till the fulfillment of their demand. The UHS Board of Governors is expected to take a decision to seal the fate of the employees on Monday (today) as the deadline given to employees elapsed on April 3, 2010. UHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Hussain Mubashar Malik, Controller of Examinations Dr Junaid Sarfraz and other officials, despite holding public offices, avoid to make themselves available for comments on the issues pertaining to employeesí strike and examinations and suspension of official work in the university.
However, the UHS spokesman, when contacted, said the ongoing strike of non-gazetted employees had not affected the conduct of examinations as university had conducted nine examinations during the last two weeks. He said that essential staff of examinations, including controller of examinations, four assistant controller of examinations, all female employees, were performing their duties as usual. Besides, he said, 58 out of 171 non-gazetted employees, who were earlier on strike, had joined their duties in the university.
In view of the MBBS third and final professional supplementary examinations 2009, scheduled to start on Monday, the spokesman said that the UHS Examinations Department had made all the necessary arrangements to conduct the exams smoothly, as the already-prepared question papers had been dispatched to the examinations centres all over the province. "The papers are neither postponed so far nor will they be postponed in future as well," he maintained. Meanwhile, the UHS employees continued their 24-hour hunger strike on the third consecutive day in front of the Punjab Assembly on Sunday, although they had started protest demonstration and partial hunger strike on March 29 against universityís decision not to regularise their services and closing the university gates on them. The employees spent their night in the open on Sunday after bearing the hardships of hunger and scorching sun on the third consecutive day just outside the Khadim-e-Punjab Secretariat.
The Punjab governmentís top political hierarchy seems to be testing the UHS employees nerves by giving them a cold shoulder in their struggle for regularisation. The protestors regretted that none of the Punjab governmentís representatives visited the UHS employees, protesting in a state of hunger, to convince them to call off their hunger strike with some kind of assurance regarding their demand of regularisation. Khurram Jahangir Watoo, a PPP MNA from Okara, was a lone visitor to the UHSís hunger strike camp so far, who had assured to knock all the doors, including Governor/Chancellorís and the parliament, for fulfillment of the protestorsí demand.
Unfaltering in their resolve against all odds, the UHS employees were not ready to bow and they were ready for a befitting reply to the oppressive response from the UHS administration and apathy of the provincial government. They were holding banners and placards and shouting slogans against the UHS administration. They announced to continue their strike till death for fulfillment of their demand. The news
It has been learnt that MBBS third and final professional supplementary examinations 2009, and various annual examinations of allied health sciences of the candidates of the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Lahore, will start from Monday (today) and BSc (Hons) examinations are scheduled to start from Tuesday (tomorrow). On the other hand, the entire non-gazetted staff, particularly of Examinations Department including Conduct, Tabulations, Secrecy sections, are on strike for regularisation.
The ongoing strike of the universityís non-gazetted staff had badly affected the official work of the university. However, in order to cope with the extraordinary situation, sources said, the UHS administration had provided reinforcement to the Examinations Department by sparing staff from various departments of the university as well as students of the allied health sciences and MPhil classes for temporary support in conducting the examinations. It has also affected studies and research work of students.
The UHS move has also raised serious doubts among various stakeholders regarding the sanctity and secrecy of the examinations system in the absence of experienced staff to conduct exams in a foolproof manner. It is also learnt that the payments of internal and external examiners were also pending due to the ongoing strike of employees. Meanwhile, the non-gazetted employees of the UHS believed that university administration had been planning to run over the livelihood of nearly 180 grade 1 to 15 employees, protesting for regularisation, and their families after financially killing more than 270 employees since the establishment of the UHS in October 2002.
The UHS had issued a final notice through an advertisement in newspapers whereby it warned all non-gazetted employees to join their duties till April 3, 2010 or face termination from service. The UHS issued fresh warning letters to the employees for failing to join their duties till April 3, 2010, after having already sent their contract letters at their residential addresses.
However, the UHS employees refused to accept the renewed contract letters of the duration of five-year-and-six-months and stood firm in their demand of regularisation of all non-gazetted contract employees in compliance with the Punjab governmentís orders to regularise all the contract employees from grade 1 to 15 in all government institutions, thereby, abolishing the contract policy in the province. They claimed that the UHS administration was trying to harass them through various means as they were contacting their families to force them to join their duties by accepting fresh extensions to their contracts. "Various MNAs and MPAs have also put pressure on our parents to force us to join duties," they alleged, adding that all the employees were, however, determined to continue their protest till the fulfillment of their demand. The UHS Board of Governors is expected to take a decision to seal the fate of the employees on Monday (today) as the deadline given to employees elapsed on April 3, 2010. UHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Hussain Mubashar Malik, Controller of Examinations Dr Junaid Sarfraz and other officials, despite holding public offices, avoid to make themselves available for comments on the issues pertaining to employeesí strike and examinations and suspension of official work in the university.
However, the UHS spokesman, when contacted, said the ongoing strike of non-gazetted employees had not affected the conduct of examinations as university had conducted nine examinations during the last two weeks. He said that essential staff of examinations, including controller of examinations, four assistant controller of examinations, all female employees, were performing their duties as usual. Besides, he said, 58 out of 171 non-gazetted employees, who were earlier on strike, had joined their duties in the university.
In view of the MBBS third and final professional supplementary examinations 2009, scheduled to start on Monday, the spokesman said that the UHS Examinations Department had made all the necessary arrangements to conduct the exams smoothly, as the already-prepared question papers had been dispatched to the examinations centres all over the province. "The papers are neither postponed so far nor will they be postponed in future as well," he maintained. Meanwhile, the UHS employees continued their 24-hour hunger strike on the third consecutive day in front of the Punjab Assembly on Sunday, although they had started protest demonstration and partial hunger strike on March 29 against universityís decision not to regularise their services and closing the university gates on them. The employees spent their night in the open on Sunday after bearing the hardships of hunger and scorching sun on the third consecutive day just outside the Khadim-e-Punjab Secretariat.
The Punjab governmentís top political hierarchy seems to be testing the UHS employees nerves by giving them a cold shoulder in their struggle for regularisation. The protestors regretted that none of the Punjab governmentís representatives visited the UHS employees, protesting in a state of hunger, to convince them to call off their hunger strike with some kind of assurance regarding their demand of regularisation. Khurram Jahangir Watoo, a PPP MNA from Okara, was a lone visitor to the UHSís hunger strike camp so far, who had assured to knock all the doors, including Governor/Chancellorís and the parliament, for fulfillment of the protestorsí demand.
Unfaltering in their resolve against all odds, the UHS employees were not ready to bow and they were ready for a befitting reply to the oppressive response from the UHS administration and apathy of the provincial government. They were holding banners and placards and shouting slogans against the UHS administration. They announced to continue their strike till death for fulfillment of their demand. The news
Plea Against NED Varsity Disposed Of
Karachi: The emeritus status of Prof Dr Engr Jameel Ahmed Khan, a former vice-chancellor of the NED University, will be considered strictly in accordance with the varsity's statues.
The assurance to this effect was given on Friday by the counsel for the vice-chancellor, the registrar and the syndicate of the NED University before the Sindh High Court that disposed of the constitutional petition of Dr Khan who prayed to the court to restrain the respondents from applying amended statutes retrospectively to his case being considered by the syndicate.
The petitioner, who was appointed professor emeritus with the lifetime status in 1990, submitted that the university amended the statues in 2009, substantially converting the lifetime status to a five-year tenure.
He said that the vice-chancellor prepared the agenda for the 156th meeting of the syndicate, held on March 15, 2010, with ulterior motives to target him.
Dr Khan submitted that it was proposed in the syndicate meeting that either he might be granted privileges together with the responsibilities for five years or he might carry only the title of professor emeritus for a lifetime.
He stated that none of the proposals could be considered by the syndicate and the decision was deferred for want of legal advice on the issue.
The petitioner, represented by Advocate Mehmood Alam Rizvi, submitted that the vice-chancellor, aged about 86 years, was appointed VC in Dec 1996 after the age of superannuation and retirement from the Pakistan Railways at the age of 72 years and thereafter was able to secure extension three times. Due to these reasons, he said, many members of the syndicate hesitated to express their opinion freely.
He stated that the item of the agenda regarding his tenure was mala fide and the VC particularly targeted him, although the amendment made in 2009 was not applicable to his case as the amendment could not be acted retrospectively.
The petitioner prayed to the court to restrain the respondents from applying amended statues of 2009 retrospectively in his case under consideration of the syndicate at present.
Advocate Obaid ur Rehman, counsel for the respondents, made a statement in court saying that the case of the petitioner would be considered strictly in accordance with Clause 8 (i) of the NED University of Engineering and Technology Statutes for Appointment of Professor Emeritus, 2001, as amended in 2009.
The Clause 8 (1) reads that conferment of emeritus status shall normally be for lifetime but can be terminated if so desired by the professor emeritus or the syndicate can it terminate by a three-fourth majority on considering unsatisfactory contribution of the professor emeritus to the academic life of the university.
The petitioner's counsel conceded to the respondents' attorney and stated that if any adverse action against his client was to be taken, a prior written notice be given to the petitioner as well as an opportunity of hearing.
The respondents' lawyer agreed to the request of the petitioner's counsel.
The bench comprising Justices Gulzar Ahmed and Shahid Anver Bajwa disposed of the petition in terms of the statement made by the respondents' counsel.
The assurance to this effect was given on Friday by the counsel for the vice-chancellor, the registrar and the syndicate of the NED University before the Sindh High Court that disposed of the constitutional petition of Dr Khan who prayed to the court to restrain the respondents from applying amended statutes retrospectively to his case being considered by the syndicate.
The petitioner, who was appointed professor emeritus with the lifetime status in 1990, submitted that the university amended the statues in 2009, substantially converting the lifetime status to a five-year tenure.
He said that the vice-chancellor prepared the agenda for the 156th meeting of the syndicate, held on March 15, 2010, with ulterior motives to target him.
Dr Khan submitted that it was proposed in the syndicate meeting that either he might be granted privileges together with the responsibilities for five years or he might carry only the title of professor emeritus for a lifetime.
He stated that none of the proposals could be considered by the syndicate and the decision was deferred for want of legal advice on the issue.
The petitioner, represented by Advocate Mehmood Alam Rizvi, submitted that the vice-chancellor, aged about 86 years, was appointed VC in Dec 1996 after the age of superannuation and retirement from the Pakistan Railways at the age of 72 years and thereafter was able to secure extension three times. Due to these reasons, he said, many members of the syndicate hesitated to express their opinion freely.
He stated that the item of the agenda regarding his tenure was mala fide and the VC particularly targeted him, although the amendment made in 2009 was not applicable to his case as the amendment could not be acted retrospectively.
The petitioner prayed to the court to restrain the respondents from applying amended statues of 2009 retrospectively in his case under consideration of the syndicate at present.
Advocate Obaid ur Rehman, counsel for the respondents, made a statement in court saying that the case of the petitioner would be considered strictly in accordance with Clause 8 (i) of the NED University of Engineering and Technology Statutes for Appointment of Professor Emeritus, 2001, as amended in 2009.
The Clause 8 (1) reads that conferment of emeritus status shall normally be for lifetime but can be terminated if so desired by the professor emeritus or the syndicate can it terminate by a three-fourth majority on considering unsatisfactory contribution of the professor emeritus to the academic life of the university.
The petitioner's counsel conceded to the respondents' attorney and stated that if any adverse action against his client was to be taken, a prior written notice be given to the petitioner as well as an opportunity of hearing.
The respondents' lawyer agreed to the request of the petitioner's counsel.
The bench comprising Justices Gulzar Ahmed and Shahid Anver Bajwa disposed of the petition in terms of the statement made by the respondents' counsel.
1,600 Teachers Waiting For Permanent Status Despite Court Order
Islamabad: As many as 1,600 honorary teachers of Cantonment Garrison schools are still seeking permanent status despite the court order that asked the relevant authorities for the regularisation and age relaxation of the temporary staff.
According to the information available to this scribe, the number of Cantonment Garrison schools across the country is around 300, where honorary teachers are performing their duties in second shift in a minimal salary that ranges between Rs3,000 to Rs6,000, while a considerable number of teachers have been performing their duties for more than 25 years.
The Directorate of Federal Government Education Institution (Cantonment/Garrison) - FGEI (C/G) - and its regional offices are 'sub-ordinate offices' of Ministry of Defence under rules 3(3) and 4(4) of Rules of Business 1973 in a similar way as the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is an attached department of the Education Ministry under the same rules.
The system of appointing honorary teachers was introduced after the imposition of ban on fresh inductions in all cadres (BPS-1 to BPS-20) by the government in 1992 but even after lifting the ban, the system continued to cater to the requirement of the second shift and additional classes in schools and colleges due to the pressure of admissions.
For about 20 years, the matter of regularisation of teachers has been hanging in the balance either on one pretext or the other. The teachers currently working in different garrison schools are competent enough to get permanent status, as majority of them hold the qualifications of FA, CT, BSc, BEd, MA, and MEd, which is the eligibility criterion for the teaching staff.
Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, in its order sheet last month asked the concerned authority to give permanent status to the temporary teachers, as SM Tasnim, (Administration Officer) FGEI Directorate, Rawalpindi, in compliance to the court's order dated February 26, 2010, had appeared in the court to state that the case of petitioners for regularisation, including age relaxation and creation of posts, has been submitted to the prime minister, though a summary decision is awaited.
However, the temporary teachers are still dubious about their future, as according to them, the authority would only give permanent status to a limited staff while the rest would have to take the tests and interviews. "We have been told that those having experience of less than 10 years will have to appear for test and interview for getting permanent status. This criterion is above our understanding, as we had appeared in tests and interviews before getting our jobs as temporary teachers," claimed a teacher.
According to a teacher requesting anonymity, the authorities are reluctant to regularise honorary teachers in order to save a big amount of money that they receive in the form of fee. The total fee of primary section is Rs160 where Rs30 is tuition fee, Rs30 is student fee, Rs4 is library fund, Rs8 is sports fund, Rs15 is building fund, Rs8 is furniture fund, and Rs65 is Regional Development Fund (RDF).
"The amount of fee for secondary section is Rs171 and the amount is even higher for high section. Honorary teachers are paid salaries from the student funds and RDF, while the salaries are not paid during summer vacations despite the fact that fee is received from students during vacations," claimed the teacher. The teacher said they have become overage while serving the school and are now ineligible for tests and interviews. "We never get a call for interview or test even if we apply for the posts, as we are overage now," said a teacher.
According to the teachers, they could be fired from their jobs, whenever the administrations desires, as they don't have any permanent status. Meanwhile, the temporary teachers don't have any of the facility provisioned to the permanent staff. "We can only avail a 10-day maternity leave and that too without salary, and are allowed only 10 casual leaves per year," they said.
Senior Joint Secretary Ministry of Defence Moosa Raza Affendi said they have already sent the summary for the regularisation of temporary teachers besides the age relaxation to the prime minister. "As soon as the summary gets approval, the honorary teachers will be given permanent status," he said.
Rejecting the teachers' reservation regarding permanent status to be given to only limited staff, he said the summary has been prepared according to the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Defence, where every teacher serving in the Cantonment Garrison schools would get permanent status. "We have also asked for a minimum of three-year age relaxation for the teachers, currently working under Cantonment Garrison schools," he added.
He also rejected the accusations regarding funds' embezzlement, saying that they have a record of every single penny collected in the form of students fee. The news
According to the information available to this scribe, the number of Cantonment Garrison schools across the country is around 300, where honorary teachers are performing their duties in second shift in a minimal salary that ranges between Rs3,000 to Rs6,000, while a considerable number of teachers have been performing their duties for more than 25 years.
The Directorate of Federal Government Education Institution (Cantonment/Garrison) - FGEI (C/G) - and its regional offices are 'sub-ordinate offices' of Ministry of Defence under rules 3(3) and 4(4) of Rules of Business 1973 in a similar way as the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is an attached department of the Education Ministry under the same rules.
The system of appointing honorary teachers was introduced after the imposition of ban on fresh inductions in all cadres (BPS-1 to BPS-20) by the government in 1992 but even after lifting the ban, the system continued to cater to the requirement of the second shift and additional classes in schools and colleges due to the pressure of admissions.
For about 20 years, the matter of regularisation of teachers has been hanging in the balance either on one pretext or the other. The teachers currently working in different garrison schools are competent enough to get permanent status, as majority of them hold the qualifications of FA, CT, BSc, BEd, MA, and MEd, which is the eligibility criterion for the teaching staff.
Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, in its order sheet last month asked the concerned authority to give permanent status to the temporary teachers, as SM Tasnim, (Administration Officer) FGEI Directorate, Rawalpindi, in compliance to the court's order dated February 26, 2010, had appeared in the court to state that the case of petitioners for regularisation, including age relaxation and creation of posts, has been submitted to the prime minister, though a summary decision is awaited.
However, the temporary teachers are still dubious about their future, as according to them, the authority would only give permanent status to a limited staff while the rest would have to take the tests and interviews. "We have been told that those having experience of less than 10 years will have to appear for test and interview for getting permanent status. This criterion is above our understanding, as we had appeared in tests and interviews before getting our jobs as temporary teachers," claimed a teacher.
According to a teacher requesting anonymity, the authorities are reluctant to regularise honorary teachers in order to save a big amount of money that they receive in the form of fee. The total fee of primary section is Rs160 where Rs30 is tuition fee, Rs30 is student fee, Rs4 is library fund, Rs8 is sports fund, Rs15 is building fund, Rs8 is furniture fund, and Rs65 is Regional Development Fund (RDF).
"The amount of fee for secondary section is Rs171 and the amount is even higher for high section. Honorary teachers are paid salaries from the student funds and RDF, while the salaries are not paid during summer vacations despite the fact that fee is received from students during vacations," claimed the teacher. The teacher said they have become overage while serving the school and are now ineligible for tests and interviews. "We never get a call for interview or test even if we apply for the posts, as we are overage now," said a teacher.
According to the teachers, they could be fired from their jobs, whenever the administrations desires, as they don't have any permanent status. Meanwhile, the temporary teachers don't have any of the facility provisioned to the permanent staff. "We can only avail a 10-day maternity leave and that too without salary, and are allowed only 10 casual leaves per year," they said.
Senior Joint Secretary Ministry of Defence Moosa Raza Affendi said they have already sent the summary for the regularisation of temporary teachers besides the age relaxation to the prime minister. "As soon as the summary gets approval, the honorary teachers will be given permanent status," he said.
Rejecting the teachers' reservation regarding permanent status to be given to only limited staff, he said the summary has been prepared according to the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Defence, where every teacher serving in the Cantonment Garrison schools would get permanent status. "We have also asked for a minimum of three-year age relaxation for the teachers, currently working under Cantonment Garrison schools," he added.
He also rejected the accusations regarding funds' embezzlement, saying that they have a record of every single penny collected in the form of students fee. The news
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