HEC urged to appoint serving faculty

Remove illegal VCs, FAPUASA demands
Islamabad, Apr 08: Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) has called upon the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to appoint serving faculty members fulfilling the requirements of a professor as vice-chancellors/rectors in public sector universities.

In a press conference organised by FAPUASA after 2-day deliberations of its general body, here on Wednesday, Dr Mahr Saeed Akhtar, President, Dr Iqbal Shah (Vice-President) and Kaleemullah Bareech (General-Secretary) said that HEC should follow the criteria fixed by itself for all the vice-chancellors whether these public-sector universities are in civil sector or run by armed forces.

He said that universities run by serving or retired military or civil officials, who do not hold PhD degree, required number of publications in HEC-recognised journals and number of years teaching and/or research experience at post-graduate level, as specified by HEC for the post of a professors, should either improve their qualifications or be replaced by those meeting the standards.

Condemning attacks on academicians at various universities, Dr Mahr Saeed warned the responsible student organisations to remain in limits. He said that we will observe black day on April 12 and may go on strike if needed.

Referring to the beating of Prof Tahir Malik by Brig (r) Ranjha, the Registrar of National University of Modern Languages, he said that all brigadier-type VCs/rectors should be replaced by serving faculty.

Prof Saeed called upon Brigadier (r) Aziz Ahmad, the Rector of NUML to withdraw the show-cause notice issued to Prof Malik beaten by Brigadier Ranjha within a week otherwise FAPUASA will demand removal of Brig Aziz from the post of Rector.

He said that many HEC high officials do not hold qualifications of academicians and hence cannot comprehend our viewpoint easily due to their bureaucratic inertia. He asked giving FAPUASA representation in HEC committees.

Answering a question whether HEC can exist after the announcement of provincial autonomy where education became a provincial subject and was it not better to put the commission back under the control of ministry, Prof Saeed said that we are considering the implications of 18th Amendment and would decide the issue in due course of time.

He said that in a meeting between the Federation and HEC earlier in the day, HEC Chairperson Dr Javed Leghari agreed to revoke retrospective implementation of decisions and asked FAPUASA to identify such decisions.

He hoped that the amicable discussion at HEC would lead to defer the new criteria. He said that in future HEC would not impose its decisions but would let the universities exercise autonomy.

The meeting discussed hardship cases and reached the conclusion that the faculty members who have not been promoted for decades, should be promoted to next grade in their own cadre as has been done in many universities in the country.

He said that we demanded increase in PhD and MPhil allowances like done by Punjab government. He said that the allowance is recognition of scholarship of a faculty member hence should continue after retirement as is the case in foreign universities. The news

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Students stage demo for not being issued admit cards
Rawalpindi: Scores of fourth year students on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration against the Postgraduate College for Women, Kashmir Road, administration for not issuing admit cards to them for the university examination commencing from April 15.

According to the students who were protesting on the college premises, the administration started collecting fine from them for not appearing in the college examination held one month before the university examination.

They said annual fee of the college is Rs1,500, but the fine amount is Rs2,100. Now, the college administration has refused to issue admit cards to the students who did not pay the fine amount, they added.

According to the students, heavy amount of fine was unjust as they are preparing for the university examination and could not appear in the college examination.

The administration made it compulsory for every student to pay Rs200 fine for each paper and the total amount becomes Rs1,600. But, the students have been asked to pay Rs2,100 for not appearing in eight papers.

The students said the administration was also charging Rs10 per lecture from a student who had been absent.

According to the students, had they appeared in the college examination, their preparation for the university examination would have been affected.

"Now the college administration is denying us roll number slips for not appearing in the 'pre-university examination," one of the protesting students said.

"The administration has directed us to pay the fine; otherwise we will not be issued cards for the final examination", she added.

"I have already appeared in college examinations four times and never failed in a single subject. I could not take examination for the fifth time because of not being well and for that I submitted medical certificate which was not accepted by the administration," said another student. The administration was insisting on the payment of fine, she added. "The administration has also threatened us that we will not be issued character certificates at the end of the session for raising our voice," said another student.

"It is impossible for us to pay such a heavy fine. This is an extra burden on our pockets and we condemn it", said mother of a college student.

"No other public school or college is charging such fines. Does it mean that administrations of all other educational institutions are not serious about their students," she queried. "Why should we pay this fine which is being collected without any legal ground," questioned another mother.

When approached, an administration official said: "We received a circular from Punjab University to take the pre-university examination and we are following that."

However, when asked to show the circulation, he said, "Even if we are taking this fine, the money we gather through this practice is being spent on college building and its renovation".

"It is college's discipline and this bounds the students to take college examination seriously," college Vice Principal Samina Bukhari said.

"We have imposed these fines so that the students take these examinations without any absentee and the result of the college is not affected," she added.

Brig Raheel Ashraf of F.G. Colleges Directorate could not be contacted for his comments.

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Academics warn of countrywide strike
Islamabad: Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations has threatened to launch a countrywide strike if the miscreants who harassed teachers in Punjab and the Faisalabad universities are not brought to the book.

The decision was taken at the general body meeting of the federation here on Wednesday.

The federation also decided to observe black day on April 15 to protest the failure of officials to recover Kohat University vice-chancellor Dr Lutfullah Kakakhel. Dr Kakakhel was kidnapped six months ago.

The meeting also demanded withdrawal of show-cause notice issued to Prof. Tahir Malik of Numl.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, president of the federation Dr Saeed Akhtar said they had conveyed to the HEC the academics concerns over the criteria of appointment of vice chancellors and particularly mentioned the advertisement for the appointment of Balochistan University VC. The advertisement said that the candidate for the post of VC has to be over 50 years of age and be an educated person. "Even a non-matric is an educated person," he added.

The association members also informed the HEC that requirement of clearing GRE for the PhD scholarship in local university is unjustified.

"The HEC would take up the matter at its board meeting," Dr Saeed said.

He also said that there were 100 public sector universities in the country and a few are headed by services personnel. Dawn

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Cultural funfair held at QAU
Islamabad: The students of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) organised a one-day Cultural Funfair here on Wednesday.

The students sang cultural songs and performed traditional dances of provinces, including Bhangra, Jamalo, Atan, Juhmar and Balouchi.

When contacted, the students said such activities promoted national integration, cultural and ethnic harmony among youngsters.

Meanwhile, several competitions including flower decoration, photography, three-leg race, rope pulling and musical chair were held on the second day of the student week at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University (PMAS-AAUR) on Wednesday.

In the decoration of fresh flowers competition, Huma Arshad stood first while second prize went to Anila Munir. In the completion of artificial flowers decoration Natasha Sundas won first and Shumaila Manzoor got second position.

In the photography competition, Rabia Parven won the first prize while Nusrat Ashraf was declared the runner up.

The competitions of rope pulling, musical chair, three-leg race were held among the faculties of the university. Agriculture department won the rope-pulling competition. Information Technology department won the match of three-leg race and women division team won musical chair competition.

IIUI: The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) will hold its 22nd annual cultural activities in connection with its Silver Jubilee celebrations from April 12.

The programmes include an International Islamic Exhibition to reflect cultural diversity of the Muslim world and some countries where Muslims are in minority.

As many as 25 Muslim countries will participate in the exhibition with display of their cultures including dresses, pottery, paintings, photographs, foods, music, art and literature. app

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Honour for QAU students
Islamabad: The students of the Department of Animal Sciences of Quaid-i-Azam University won laurels at declamation and drama contests of the Fatima Jinnah Women University, says a press release issued here on Wednesday. Sadia Shahid and Shaista Nazeer (students of MSc 3rd Semester) obtained 2nd position in the drama competition. While Sadia Shahid (MSc 3rd Semester) got third position in bilingual declamation contest in the recently concluded competitions at the FJWU held from April 2 to 4.

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Islamabad Model College student's distinction
Islamabad: Aiman Arshad, a student of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, Sector G-10/2, got overall first position in the evening shift by obtaining 545 marks out of 600 in the Class VI annual examination, says a press release. She is the daughter of Arshad Hassan.

Islamabad: Syed Bilal Masood, son of Syed Adil Masood, a student of Class-I at the OPF Girls College, Nursery Section, Sector F-10/2, has obtained 100% marks in the annual examination, says a press release.

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Students learn about hygiene at The City School
Rawalpindi: An event regarding personal hygiene, nutrition and oral health, in accordance with World Health Day celebrated all over the world on April 7, was held at The City School, Civil Lines Branch.

A large number of students along with their mothers attended the programme that included a musical tableau on healthy cleaning by the little students as well.

Dr. Quaid Saeed, research consultant (HIV/AIDS) at the World Health Organisation (WHO) under the banner of United Nations, graced the occasion and informed children about proper techniques of hand-washing, personal hygiene, including oral health and healthy eating and toilet training, with the help of lectures and audio-visual techniques.

Children listened attentively and shared their honest views on the topic. Dr Quaid's presentation on the six steps for washing hands and the importance of brushing teeth was actively participated by children aged 2.5-7 years.

"Children who watch presentations through pictorials learn quickly and remember it for a longer time. The need is to make the learning interactive, so that the children indulge in the activity and discuss it in their homes. Repeated awareness in this regard makes children learn these techniques and adopt them accordingly," Dr. Quaid said.

"We focus on health programmes and conduct lectures at various schools all round the year. This has created a lot of awareness about health and its issues but still a lot needs to be addressed in our society where children are vulnerable to diseases and only awareness can combat this menace," he added.

Mrs Nargis Nasir, headmistress The City School, Civil Lines Branch, thanked Dr. Quaid for his time and said his lectures would definitely create a lot of awareness about personal hygiene and health among children. The news

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