Is schools' results a flawed benchmark?
Results a flawed benchmark of schools performance
Lahore, Feb 23: Educational institutions are generally rated by the standard of
teaching faculty, facilities and peaceful academic atmosphere, nevertheless the
importance of exam results are certainly an important benchmark. It is
unfortunate that most of private as well as public sector schools and colleges
employ various kinds of tactics to "produce" better results. One such "method"
is registering minimum number of students as regular candidates for board's
examinations. A large number of educational institutions especially schools are
indulging in this practice to show good results. Most of the educational
institutions despite having a large number of students enrolled prefer to send
regular admissions of a limited number of students who are likely to perform
well in exams. While others who are supposed to perform poorly in exam, are told
to get themselves registered as private candidates so that their performance
might not affect the overall results of a particular school. It is
important to mention here that every year a number of cases are reported in
which students express their anger against the administration of their
respective institute for not sending their admission as regular
candidates. Academic circles believe this growing trend as a "deceitful"
behaviour on part of educational institutions saying disowning students just
before the annual exams by the educational institution is certainly
unjustified. They argue that on one hand schools especially those working
in private sector charge heavy monthly fees from students but at the time of
admission for exams only selected students are registered as regular candidates.
"This is something which the government will be monitoring this year",
said Raja Muhammad Anwar, the chairman of Chief Minister's Taskforce on
Elementary Education. He said it was certainly a negative practice adopted by
majority of schools that students who had been regularly paying fees were denied
admission to appear as regular candidates in exams. "If such students are
supposed to perform poorly in the exams then who is responsible," he questioned
He said the government would be assessing results of schools by comparing these
with overall enrolment of a particular school before exams. The Home
Economics Society of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) organised an
event "Activity Show" at varsity campus on Saturday. More than 10 stalls
featuring jewellery, garments, shoes, interior, gift items and food items were
set up. As many as three stalls were set up by the university students where
items prepared by students were on display. Besides faculty members and
administrative staff a large number of students attended the event and
appreciated the work done by students. The prize distribution ceremony
of 130th Annual Athletics Championship of the Punjab University Law College was
held last week in which Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran distributed
prizes among position holders and other distinguished players. Speaking
at the ceremony, the VC said that one should learn from player's sportsman
spirit and discipline to have a successful life. He said that sports play an
important role in one's life to get a progressive mind and healthy body. -lachvee@gmail.com
PEC new exam system needs revamping
Attock: Many loopholes and anomalies were observed during the primary and middle
standard examinations held under the control of PEC (Punjab Examination
Commission). The PEC has been spending millions of rupees on this
centralised examination system under which question papers and answer sheets are
provided to the students across the Punjab of the same standard. Although
the centralised system of examination has been started to improve the standard
of education yet having loopholes and needs a lot of improvement. This has been
learnt through reliable sources that the answer sheets provided to the students
for primary and middle examinations having no serial numbers. There have been
reports that such kind of answer sheets could easily be replaced during marking
of papers or during the examination. Sources revealed that at many
examination and marking centers, such anomalies took place where the students
having approach to the teachers managed to replace their answer sheets. This has
also been reported in most of the cases the answer sheets were not signed by the
superintendent concerned and to cover this violation at many marking centres the
superintendents are busy in signing the answer sheets. Contrary to the
rules the objective papers were attempted by the students using lead pencils.
This has also been reported that the examiners had not taken the examination in
letter and spirit. Most of the teachers said that it was a futile
exercise. Another thing which needs attention of the authorities is that
teachers deputed as examiners at different centres were from nearby schools thus
having no affective control during the examination. Reportedly, at one
centre in tehsil Jand duplicate objective paper answer sheets were produced from
a student taking examination but no action was taken against the staff, which is
a question mark. Some of the teachers are of the view if no student would be
failed then spending millions of rupees by PEC is just drainage of exchequer.
A senior teacher said if PEC wanted to hold fair and transparent
examinations then examiners and superintendents must be deputed from other
tehsils. A science teacher said that holding of primary and middle examination
in this month is hampering the studies of the students of other classes
especially of 9th and 10th as most of the teachers have been deputed on
examination duty to conduct examinations and for marking the papers.
UK Varsity, UVAS to venture in leather sector
Lahore: The University of Northampton, UK, and the University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) on Saturday agreed to work to launch joint
ventures with focus on leather sector of Pakistan. According to a press
statement, a three-member delegation from the University of Northampton, led by
Director of International Office Ms Delia Heneghan, comprising senior lecturer
Paul Evans and Country Director JE Austin and Associates Inc Dr Warren Weinsten
held a meeting with UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz and senior
faculty members. They discussed the areas of collaborations and agreed
to look for possibilities of launching joint ventures with the UVAS and the
Higher Education Commission (HEC) in leather and dairy sectors. The
British delegation head said that University of Northampton was interested in
developing collaborations/partnerships with Pakistani universities and working
with leather technologists, veterinary scientists, agriculture experts and
business and marketing executives in the country with focus on leather and dairy
industries. She said that the University of Northampton would help the UVAS in
imparting leather technology education and training and workforce development to
Pakistan's leather sector. Dr Warren Weinsten said Pakistan was rich in
raw material and what it lacked was the value addition and trained manpower. He
said the country could earn hefty foreign exchange in exporting leather and for
the purpose it had to develop its leather sector. The UVAD
vice-chancellor told the British delegation that the university was already
running a research project on economic losses due to the damages to animal skin
after slaughtering. Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, who is principal
investigator of the research project, briefed the guests about the details of
the project and said that the UVAS, in collaboration with the HEC and the
Tanners Association of Pakistan, had completed the field work on the damages to
animal skin and was now compiling its research report. The
vice-chancellor constituted a three-member committee, comprising Prof Dr Zafar
Iqbal Chaudhry, Prof Dr Muhammad Abdullah and Dr Naveed Akhtar, to develop a
framework for joint ventures with the University of Northampton. The British
delegation will again visit the UVAS next week, hold a meeting with the
three-member committee of the UVAS and further discuss the modalities of
collaboration and partnership between the two universities.
KEMU course
Lahore:: The King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Lahore, will hold the 18th annual four-day course at
KEMU auditorium from February 23.
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Punjab University announced various exams results
Lahore: The Punjab University Examination Department on Saturday declared the results of various
examinations. According to a press statement, the exams include MSc Chemical
Engineering session 2005-2006, MFA Book Illustration and Painting, session
2007-2008, MFA Graphic Arts, session 2006-2007, MSc (Hons) Biotechnology,
session 2005-2007, BSc (Hons) Mathematics, session 2004-2007, MSc Economics
(Replica), session 2005-2007, MSc (Hons) Mathematics, session 2004-2006 and MSc
Botany, Part II of Annual Examination 2008. Detailed results are available at PU
website www.pu.edu.pk.
Three PhDs awarded
Lahore: The Punjab University has awarded PhD degrees to three students. According to a press
statement, Khalida Tasneem, daughter of Ch Khushi Muhammad, was awarded a PhD
degree in Punjabi. Her thesis was 'The status of women in Punjabi Dastan.' She
is serving as an assistant professor of Punjabi at the Government APWA College
for Women. Muhammad Muzaffar, son of Muhammad Akram, was awarded a PhD in Arabic
after completion of his thesis 'Critical study and edition of manuscript
Sharh-ul-Hussami.' Ahmed Mian Khan, son of Mian Khan Sherani, was awarded a PhD
in Islamic Studies. His thesis was 'Manhaj Tafsir Al-Maraghi Wa Tafarudatuh
Derasatun Muqaranatun.'
University of Peshawar announced LLB results
Peshawar: The University of Peshawar has
declared results for Bachelor of Law (LLB) part-II supplementary examination
held in 2007 here Saturday. A press release issued here said that 191 candidates
appeared in the examination, 122 students passed while 9 candidates remained
absent. Result percentage was 64. Similarly, in LLB (part final) 294 candidates
appeared, 161 passed and 46 remained absent. The result percentage was 55. The News
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