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New education scheme collapses
Karachi, Dec 04, 2007: The government continued with its testing policy in education
sector, specially in Sindh, however, it failed to implement the new scheme of
studies (NSS) in the province.
NSS was approved at a meeting chaired by
federal Secretary Education Jehnangir Bashr and attended by provincial
secretaries of three provinces as well as FATA and FANA. Former provincial
secretary education Subhago Khan Jatoi, however, did not participate.
The
meeting decided on two things: to hold separate exams for classes nine and 10
under NSS whose notification was issued to all the four provinces. Under the
NSS, exams were planned in three categories: subjective, objective and short
questions.
Three provinces implemented the decision under this scheme,
however, Sindh remained unprepared as usual for the same, thus affecting
uniformity in the education sector. Matric Board decided to hold 2008 exams
under old scheme, while Inter Board Chairman Anwar Zai, when contacted, said:
"We are all prepared for the said exams but awaiting formal approval from the
Governor Sindh".
He said that if the governor did not issue endorsement,
"our board of governors and senior teachers will finalise the issue and model
papers will be issued on December 15 to the educational institutions falling in
the board's jurisdiction".
While half of the academic session has
passed, the authorities concerned introduced the new education scheme at college
level, which was yet not implemented. Students, teachers and parents did express
their concern over the situation but in vain.
In this connection, Sindh
Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA), at its meeting, expressed concern
over the non-issuance of model papers and new books for Intermediate courses by
the education boards in the province.
The SPLA meeting was chaired by
its president Professor Riaz Ahsan and attended by Professor Manzoor Hussain
Chishti, Professor Siddiq Unar, Professor Ayub Marri, Professor Ather Hussain
Mirza, Professor Yaqoob Chandio, Professor Iftikhar Mohammed Azmi and other
office bearers.
The Education Department had decided last month to take
exams on the pattern of foreign universities in order to cope with the prevalent
requirements. But, unfortunately, such a project was initiated in haste and
needed extensive homework for which the authorities seemed to be oblivious, said
an inside source.
The meeting noted that Intermediate boards in Sindh
have yet to prepare model papers for the examinations even after the lapse of
half of academic year. The SPLA demanded of the Education Department to defer
this programme till next year, as students were not issued model papers and they
needed time to make preparations.
Besides, the meeting noted, the
non-availability of textbooks has further aggravated the problem for the
students. The SPLA appealed to the Governor Sindh, provincial caretaker
Education Minister and all chairmen of Intermediate boards to defer the
implementation of new shceme of studies till the issuance of model papers and
availability of new textbooks in the market. The News
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