Major changes in Punjab University's BA/BSc, MA/MSc exams

Students and teachers have been criticising the PU administration aggregate system
Lahore, Fen 02: Major structural changes in the Punjab University's BA/BSc and MA/MSc examinations are in the offing and are likely to be applied to those candidates who will appear in these exams from varsity's affiliated colleges or privately from this year.

These changes include reorganisation of aggregate system of marking, allowing those candidates of BA/BSc for supplementary exam who fail in two papers and introduction of supplementary exam at MA/MSc level.

It is important to mention here that students and teachers have been criticising the PU administration for introducing 45 per cent of aggregate at MA/MSc level a couple of years ago.

Under this system, 40 per cent is pass marks of each paper while a candidate has to make 45 per cent total aggregate to pass the exams, which means if a candidate even gets 40 or 41 marks in each of the five papers of MA/MSc, he/she is considered fail.

This aggregate system was introduced in 2005 during tenure of VC Lt Gen (Retd) Arshad Mehmood but despite strong resentment from students and teachers, the PU administration could not change it and students continued to suffer.

Similarly, students and teachers have been expressing concerns regarding non-availability of an important option for private candidates and those of affiliated colleges of the Punjab University i.e. supplementary exams at MA/MSc level.

At present, if a candidate fails in any one subject of MA/MSc exams, he/she has to wait for almost a year to sit in the annual exam, as PU does not offer supplementary exams at this level. Undoubtedly, this has been delaying the youth to start their professional careers, while its worst impact on female students, keeping in view prevailing social norms, could not be ignored.

The third major structural change on the cards is allowing all those candidates of BA/BSc exams to sit in supplementary exams who would fail in two subjects.

At present, a candidate who fails in only one subject in BA/BSc annual exams is eligible to appear in supplementary exam while all those failing in more than one subject have to appear in annual exam.

A senior PU official said keeping in view growing concern of the students and their parents, the university administration was seriously mulling over to bring reforms in the examination system. He said PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran had held several meetings with the Controller of Examinations Zahid Kareem in this connection recently.

He further said the supplementary exams at MA/MSc level would also help the university to generate revenue, adding it was too important since universities were facing severe cuts in grants from the government.

A consensus has been developed to bring revolutionary changes in the examination system so that candidates might be facilitated to the maximum extent and they might not suffer because of the system, he added.

Zahid Kareem said there had been deliberations on several important and possible changes in exams at BA/BSc and MA/MSc level. He said issues like aggregate system and supplementary exams would soon be placed before the academic council for final approval. -lachvee@gmail.com (The News)

PPSC bans two candidates
Lahore: The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has permanently disqualified two candidates in view of a gross irregularity (impersonation) committed by them. According to a press note issued on Saturday, Muhammad Tahseen Najam s/o Najam ud Din and Muhammad Azeem Najam s/o Najam ud Din, residents of H-64 Mohallah Islampura, Matchis Factory, Shahdra, have been permanently disqualified from appearing/applying for any post advertised by the PPSC.

KEMU announced MBBS result
Lahore: THE King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Lahore, has declared the result of the MBBS First Professional Part-I Annual Examination, 2008. According to a press result notification here on Saturday, 276 candidates had appeared in the exam and 215 were declared successful with 77.90 pass percentage. Muhammad Salman Faisal, Roll No 81096, secured first position, Rabi Anwar, Roll No 81239, got second position and Zahra Arooba, Roll No 81284, obtained third position. The detailed result can be viewed on www.kemu.edu.pk The supplementary examination of the MBBS First Professional Part-I will commence from March 17.

Post your comments

Punjab Schoolteachers announce boycott of test
Lahore: The Senior Staff Association (SSA) of the Punjab government schools has announced boycott of the test of management training programme scheduled for February 7 and 8.

The SSA also announced a protest demonstration outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat on Feb 6 in connection with the teachersí concerns over performance of the Programme Management and Implementation Unit (PMIU).

Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Sunday, SSA President Hafiz Abdul Nasir and office bearers, including Zarar Ahmed and Dr Shabir Ahmed said a management training programme for senior teachers for their selection as management officers was envisaged by the PMIU a couple of years ago, adding that it was not being implemented while keeping in view the ground realities.

They said a GMAT type of test was being conducted to check the eligibility of teachers for the said training programme despite the fact that almost all the teachers were selected through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC). They said these teachers were already declared eligible for their appointment on administrative posts by the DPC/PSB. In such circumstances there was no need for making them sit in a test, they added.

The SSA office-bearers criticised the PMIU, saying it was not delivering rather taking steps which were not in favour of the teaching community. They questioned as to why the PMIU signed an agreement with the Government College University (GCU), Lahore, to conduct the said training programme when the Directorate of Staff Development (DSD), a body for training in-service teachers, was already present. They said the GCU, which had been awarded the contract, did not have any experience in organising such training in the past.

They appealed to the chief minister to intervene and direct the officers concerned to discontinue the said training programme.

They said practical policy in consultation with the teaching community should also be ensured in this connection. The News

Rs3bn agri project submitted to US for aid
Faisalabad: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has submitted a project worth Rs3 billion to the United States of America for financial assistance to evolve contemporary business approaches that can enhance production and profit of agriculture products.

This was stated by UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at the inaugural ceremony of `Marketing Festival' organised by the Department of Business Management Sciences (DBMS) of the university on Saturday. Giving details of the proposed project, he said the UAF would use financial aid from the US to establish an `Entrepreneurship Centre at Faculty of Agri, Economics & Rural Sociology' to introduce innovative business approaches through products development.

Unique and workable ideas needed to be transformed into business and aggressive marketing so as to get maximum benefits from the products, he said.

The UAF would also start master degrees coupled with short courses to instill modern business techniques to give a boost to the agriculture sector.

Dr Iqrar said: "In order to overcome the problems of price hike in agricultural inputs and rapidly increasing cost of production, we will have to shift our focus towards entrepreneurship in livestock and agricultural sectors to achieve the goal of poverty alleviation."

Expressing his satisfaction over the quality of graduates produced by DBMS, Dr Iqrar said the university was striving hard to encourage its students to come up with realistic and innovative ideas to revamp the traditional business trends.

The VC also visited different stalls and talked to the exhibitors, urging them to take part actively in such exhibitions.

Faculty of Sciences dean Dr Muhammad Ashraf said the quality of the stalls showed the capabilities and talent of the students and the faculty as well. He termed the festival a colourful event of bright ideas.

DBMS coordinator Inayat Khan said last year a management buzz had been held at Chenab Club, but this event was more relevant to the university as all stalls related to agricultural products prepared by various departments of the university. Dawn

ACCA site launched to discuss global economy
Lahore: A dedicated new micro-site gives members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) the opportunity to share experiences and receive personal support on dealing with the current economic situation. The new micro-site, www.accaglobal.com/economy, brings together existing analyses, resources, business strategies and discussion boards, giving ACCA members the opportunity to share ideas on how to meet the current challenges. ACCA President Richard Aitken-Davies said, "The key issue with ACCA's new site is that, rather than just talking to our members about the current crisis, it encourages members to share their experiences and opinions." Daily Times

Germany to assist in technical education
Lahore: Punjab Finance, Planning and Development Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira has said Germany will enhance its cooperation for promotion of technical education and upgradation of the transport sector in Punjab.

This he said after a meeting with a delegation of German group GTZ International led by regional director (South Asia) Hans Dube here on Sunday.

The minister said that Germany would lend a hand in upgrading the technical education to the international standard and development of urban facilities.

He said the provincial government had already established a company for the improvement of transport system. Dawn

Post your comments