Wah Medical College second convocation

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.

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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

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Women Week ends at FJWU
Rawalpindi: The annual Women Week at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Rawalpindi ended in a festive manner on Sunday.

The last day began with the computer programming competition. Students from six universities participated in the competition.

Farhan Mehmood and Muhammad Bilal Akhter from Institute of Space Technology won the first prize, Shumaila Batool and Shah Bano from IIUI won the second prize and Asad Mehmood and Muhammad Azeem from AAUR stood third. The FJWU VC gave away prizes to the winners. app

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RIU Information Week, Expo from today
Islamabad: Riphah International University (RIU) will hold Information Week from today (Monday) till April 9 to enhance information, literacy and virtual learning environment among the students, faculty and knowledge seekers.

This unique activity will promote information culture among the world of academia and information professionals and providers, said a news release issued here.

A two-day exhibition will be opened tomorrow (Tuesday) at the main University Campus in Sector I-14, in which booksellers, publishers, information providers, news agencies, print and electronic media, cellular companies, FM radios and educational institutions will participate.

An essay writing competition among students and faculty members will also be held on the subject 'Libraries are the Beating Heart of the Nation' in English and Urdu. All students and faculty members of colleges and universities can participate in the competition and the last date for submission of essays was March 30.

Riphah Information Portal, developed by the Zulfiqar Library of RIU will also be formally launched and inaugurated on April 6.

However, TV talk shows and lectures on various topics relating to Information Technology with particular reference to the role of libraries will be held at Al-Mizan Campus of the University on April 7-8 from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon. The closing and prize distribution ceremony will be held on April 9 at the main campus of the university.

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Students present artwork on environment
Islamabad: An environment themed project exhibition was imaginatively displayed by the students of Global System of Integrated Studies (GSIS) Primary Section here Saturday.

The artworks made by the students of Class I to V carried thought provoking slogans and messages that highlighted the importance of issues like global warming, importance of trees, marine pollution, importance of water and dams, recycling and saving earth resources from getting wasted.

The students had been encouraged by the teachers to use waste materials to create their projects due to which the children came up with innovative experimentation with a variety of materials that was highly appreciated by a large number of parents, who had come to see their children's end-of-the-term work.

The student's involvement in making this exhibition a success was visible from their confident explanation of each and every project, while the teachers had put in a lot of effort in displaying the projects and highlighting the intricate details of each artwork.

The lobby and corridors of the school's primary section presented the look of an art gallery while all items on display were appreciated by the visitors - be it the key chains made through papier mache or the huge trees showing nests of small birds in them.

Malik Auliya, Deputy Director General Environment, was the guest of honour on the occasion, who highly appreciated the efforts of the GSIS teachers for inculcating awareness among the students about environmental protection. He noted that each and every project carried a message and pointed out that not only children but adults too need to be educated on the basic issues related to environment.

Principal GSIS Quratulain Ali congratulated Ms Waheeda, head of the primary section, and the teachers for producing such an excellent work. The news

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