FUUAST published 47 books | Edu dept ignores school's problems
FUUAST publishes 47 books in four years
Karachi, April 15: Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology (FUUAST)
has published about 47 books in Urdu language for higher classes (BSc and
MSc) in different scientific disciplines. Bureau of Composition, Compilation
and Translation (BCC&T) of the Urdu University has achieved this target
within a short span of four years only, while the Karachi University, in
comparison, could publish seven books during the last 6 years. According
to director public relations FUUAST, Zafar Mohayyudin, the publication of around
39 books has been completed while that of 8 others is in pipeline. He
further said that manuscripts of 16 more books would be completed in next 6
months. The BCC&T was set up in 2005 at a cost of Rs 12 million, funded by
the Higher Education Commission (HEC). "However, the HEC had, initially,
approved Rs 30.4 million for the project while the FUUAST received only Rs 12
million in this regard. The Commission had given FUUAST the task to
publish 90 books in three years, which was irrational. Though, the Urdu
University managed to publish several useful books for BSc and MSc classes.
These books relate to different disciplines, including History of Pakistan,
economics, chemistry, geography, geology, pharmacy, mathematics, biology,
medicine and others," he said. Presently, there are more than 13,000
students enrolled in the university. It has also achieved other goals during
recent years such as the establishment of faculty of Engineering and
Pharmacy, provision of new books to its libraries, equipping laboratories
with modern apparatus and introducing semester system. Besides, more than
100 PhD and MPhil students have also been enrolled at the university. FUUAST
is also planning to open new campuses in across the country and abroad while
has successfully set up fundamental structure such as board of studies,
board of faculty, academic council, syndicate, senate, selection board and the
GRMC. Conversely, the Karachi University has published only departmental
journals and other material so far. According to Prof Dr Mansoor Ahmed,
director BCC&T at the KU, around seven books have been published during
the last year under his directorship. He claimed that KU earned nearly Rs 19
million during one year on account of publishing assignment given by
different institutions or departments. It is pertinent to mention here that
BCC&T of the KU was established in 1960 with the objective of publishing
state-of-the-art books for the students, teachers and intellectuals. The Nation
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Students face difficulties as govt dept ignores school's problems
Karachi: Sana wipes the beads of sweat off her forehead as she desperately
tries to pay attention to what her teacher is saying, but to no avail. A student
of Ibrahim Ali Bhai Primary Urdu Medium School Gizri, Sana and her classmates
have to brave the scorching sun, the irritating flies and the humid ground. The
marble floorings, the freshly painted façade, wall and windows all portray an
impressive picture but it is the internal state of the school that is quite
grim. Thanks to the repairmen of the Education Works Department who have taken
over Sana's classroom, turning into a storage room for their repairing
materials, her classmates and she now have to sit in the porch for their
classes. According to Ibrahim Ali Bhai Primary Urdu Medium School Gizri
Principal Yasmeen Akram, renovation work which started in November 2008 was
suddenly abandoned in the middle of last month due to the shortage of funds.
"The repairmen had unearthed old electricity connections, and taken out fans and
lights to insert new ones. However, they neither fitted new connections nor were
new fans or tube lights installed in classrooms. The students were deprived of
electricity, and forced to study in hot and dusky classrooms." The lack
of electricity is not the only grievance of the school administration - water is
another dilemma. The school has been operating without water since its inception
in 2000. "An underground tank was dug up by these men but no connections have
been made to provide water to the school's bathrooms. Often girls go back to
their homes to relieve themselves. For the 500 girls studying in the school, the
eight bathrooms are of no use," Akram lamented. The adjoining building
of Government Secondary Girl's School – with over 350 students – has been
functioning without a sweeper for the last 10 months. One school teacher,
requesting anonymity, said: "Several applications have been submitted to the
Executive District Officer (EDO) Education Ibrahim Kumbar, but all efforts thus
far have been in vain and we keep getting the same reply that there is a 'ban on
appointment' and nothing can be done until the ban is removed". Despite
repeated attempts, the EDO however could not be reached for comment on the
matter. The absence of a sweeper is causing severe problems in the
school. According to the teachers, the lack of cleanliness is creating hurdles
in the girls' education process, as every week they spend three hours cleaning
up their classrooms. The heap of garbage and trash littered across the school
grounds attracts innumerable mosquitoes and flies, and the girls have no option
but to study in such an unhygienic environment. Incidents of theft have
also been frequent, as the school campus has been without a watchman for the
last one-and-a-half years and thieves enter the school premises at will.
"Miscreants take away fans, stationery, water taps, folders and files, anything
they can lay their hands on. The locks of shelves are frequently broken, as
anyone can enter the school, and pose a threat to the students and the staff.
After the death of the previous watchman, applications have been submitted
several times to the authorities concerned but they have turned a deaf ear to
our problems," said Akram. While the school's problems are discussed by
the District Education Officer (DEO) at each monthly meeting, it is rather
unfortunate that despite numerous complaints and constant reminders, the
government has failed to tackle the school's problems. -By Rabia Ali
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New secretary of BSEK
Karachi: Hoor Mazhar has taken over charge as Board of
Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) Acting Secretary, said a BSEK notification
issued on Tuesday. It further said that Aminuddin had taken over as the BSEK
Acting Controller of Examinations. Mazhar and Aminuddin have relieved Kalim
Asghar Kirmani and Syed Jawed Iftikhar respectively.
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KU to hold special exams
Karachi: The University of Karachi (KU) has informed all those students whose
enrolment/re-enrolment has expired, and who have yet to complete their degree
programme, to avail the KU's 'One Time Special Chance' Examination-2009. The
exam will begin from May 5. The last date for submission of examination form is
April 30. A fee of Rs1,000 per course will be charged from April 18 to April 24.
A late fee of Rs500 will be charged from April 25 to April 30. FUUAST: Students
of Applied Chemistry Department, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science &
Technology (FUUAST) have won the inter-departmental quiz competition. The News
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FAL to organise study tours for school kids
Karachi: Community Development Department (CDD) of the city government has
planned to organise study tours at the newly established Fine Arts library
and Atia Faizee Rahmeen Art Gallery to create awareness among the students
about the importance of library and fine arts in the society. Talking to The
Nation on Tuesday, DO cultural wing, Naheed Abida, said that on the directives
of the City Nazim Mustafa Kamal and other concerned high ups, a
comprehensive plan has been chalked out to invite groups of students from
various schools to visit the Fine Arts library on weekly basis. She said that
facilities would also be provided to young artists for organising free their
exhibitions of their paintings at the art gallery. Abida added that every
week one local school would be invited to visit the library and art gallery.
It may be noted that City Nazim Mustafa Kamal had directed the authorities
concerned to provide free facilities to the students and art lovers to
organize their exhibitions and gatherings in the premises of the library.
Abida hoped that study tours would prove very useful in boosting creative
activities of the students. She further said that a group of 36 students of
Aga Khan School Kharadar, headed by Art teacher Ms Sadeea, recently visited
the library and art gallery and was very much impressed by the facilities and
friendly environment here. Librarian Bilqees Bano briefed them about art
books and paintings displayed at the art gallery. She said that on the
directives of city nazim Mustafa Kamal and EDO, Rehana Saif, school children
would be invited to visit the library on weekly basis. She informed them
that any school could contact the library administration at phone No 9213361-2
for arranging the visit for its students. Bano added the department
would also invite students from all of the CDGK-run schools at various towns in
the metropolis. The Nation
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Mehran University Exam schedule
Hyderabad: The Mehran University of Engineering and Technology has
announced that the examinations of 1st term to 10th term of Bachelor of
Engineering, Bachelor of City and Regional Planning and 1st term to 10th term of
Bachelor of Architecture will begin from April 27. It may be noted that this is
the last chance and the timings would be from 1pm to 4pm. The last date
for submission of examinations forms had been fixed as April 18.
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SU students organise food fair
Hyderabad: Students of the Institute of English Language and
Literature, Sindh University, organised a food fair on Tuesday at the Institute
of Sindhology. Many stalls were set up presenting food with both
classical and modern touch. Noted scholar Dr N.A. Baloch,
Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, teachers and students visited the fair
held in connection with the founder's week celebrations. Dr Rafiq Ahmed
Memon and Dr Nargis Raza Otho of the institute briefed the guests about the food
fair. The vice-chancellor appreciated the efforts of the teachers and
students of the Institute of English Language and Literature.
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PhD scholars advised to focus on thesis material
Hyderabad: Every phase of a PhD project needed thoughtful
deliberations and the researcher must focus on reviewing their thesis material
which was a major exercise for the doctorate, said Sindh University Faculty of
Social Sciences Dean Prof Dr Iqbal Panhwar at a seminar. He was speaking
on "How to earn PhD in qualitative and competitive settings" at the Mehran
University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, on Tuesday. Dr
Panhwar explained significance of quantitative and qualitative research,
usefulness of sampling and flow charts, mindset of researcher, design and
procedure and the role of supervisor. Earlier, Continuing Education
Director Prof Dr Mujeeb Sehrai, welcomed the speaker and spoke on the objectives
of the seminar. Dr Sehrai said that in many PhD projects at their final
stages, various comments on the thesis suggested that basics of the research was
not being taken care of and it was not evaluated. He expressed the hope
that the seminar would provide a guideline to the postgraduate students of the
university. Prof Dr M.R. Abro, the acting vice-chancellor, presided over the
seminar and appreciated the efforts of Dr Panhwar and the directorate of
Continuing Education for organising such an important seminar.
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PPP leader rejects VC's allegations
Hyderabad: Sindh People's Party (women wing) Finance Secretary Ms
Noorunnisa Abro has described the allegations levelled against her by Liaquat
University of Medical and Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Prof Noshad Ahmed
Shaikh as baseless. According to a report published on Tuesday,
Prof Noshad has sent letters to high government officials complaining about Ms
Abro's alleged misbehaviour, use of abusive language and issuance of threats.
The PPP leader said in a statement that six months ago, she had met the
vice-chancellor and requested him for the appointment of her son Dr Arshad Abro,
who was a postgraduate and presently the president of the People's Doctors
Forum. Ms Abro said she was told that there was a ban on appointments
and after lifting of the ban, he would consider the matter. Meanwhile,
she said, she learnt that the vice-chancellor had appointed some doctors. When
she again met the vice-chancellor and questioned the appointments, Prof Noshad
told her that the doctors had been appointed on the recommendation of 'big'
people and that she should also get a recommendation letter from the Sindh
governor for her son, she said. Ms Abro said she submitted an
application to the Sindh chief minister who recommended to the governor for her
son's appointment and the governor wrote to the vice chancellor. But on
April 10 when she approached the vice-chancellor, he refused to accept the
recommendation. The PPP leader said she quietly came out and made a
complaint to the governor against the vice-chancellor. She said that
when the vice-chancellor learnt about the complaint, he levelled allegations to
save his skin. Dawn
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