USAID teachers' training | Comstech libraries

USAID training plan for teachers launched
Islamabad, Feb 24: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Anne Aarnes congratulated the Ministry of Education for the launch of Pakistan's National Professional Standards for Teachers program.

"With the introduction of these standards, Pakistan today embarks on the journey which will enhance teachers' knowledge of the profession and improve their teaching skills. In return, their students will be better educated and well prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century," said Ms. Aarnes at the launching ceremony. The launching ceremony followed by a workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and Unesco under the Strengthening Teacher Education in Pakistan (STEP) project funded by USAID.

To improve the quality of teachers, and subsequently the quality of education for students, the STEP program has supported the Ministry of Education and the Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (ACTE), under Higher Education Commission, to develop standards for teachers and teacher education programmes.

The STEP program also aims to build a framework, for quality assurance mechanism, based on established standards. Since 2002, the US Government has provided more than $2 billion to Pakistan for improvements in economic growth, education, health, governance, assistance in earthquake reconstruction, and lately for the internally displaced people who have fled their homes owing to floods and then military operations in Bajaur Agency.

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Comstech connects 45 OIC member states' libraries
Islamabad: Comstech has connected the journal holdings of 45 major libraries spread across over its fifteen member- states, making available a list of 28,000 research journals online. The libraries have been connected through a latest networking programme. The Comstech launched its Inter-Library Network Service to enhance the utility of its Free Literature Search Service in view of limited access of the scientists and researchers of the OIC region to the scientific research articles.

In year 2001, the Comstech Secretariat established an In-house facility to commence the massive task of collecting the lists of journal holdings from the member-states' libraries. The lists were compiled in a format compatible with the online database to be made available on the Comstech website. At present, the journal holdings of forty-five libraries from fifteen member-states of the Comstech have been listed with the Comstech.

These member states include Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Malaysia, Kingdom of Morocco, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Senegal, Syrian Arab Republic and Republic of Turkey.

When contacted, Comstech spokesperson said the new libraries from OIC member states, in case they wish to participate in this programme, are welcomed to send the lists of their journal holdings to enable Comstech to integrate in this online database.

"The main objective of Comstech Inter-Library Resource Network Service is to make the scientific journal holdings of the major OIC libraries accessible to the scientific community of the OIC region.

The programme aims at benefiting from the existing resources of the OIC region and recognise the library resources to permit its collective utilisation by a large section of the member-states' research community," added the spokesperson. "The initiative has succeeded in achieving a practice framework for international cooperation by massive collection of scientific journals for the OIC research community.

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Academic Group blasts PU administration
Lahore: The Punjab University Academic Group (AG) has demanded the varsity's administration to withdraw notifications regarding removal of Islamic Centre hostel's warden and superintendent.

According to a press statement issued on Monday, a meeting of consultative council of the PU Academic Group chaired by Dr Khawaja Harris Rasheed strongly criticised the university administration for removing Warden Dr Shabbir Ahmad Mansoori and Superintendent Dr Mumtaz Ahmad Salik in a humiliating manner. The meeting unanimously passed a resolution against the PU administration for allegedly harassing the university teachers.

The teachers demanded the government to hold an impartial probe into the removal of the warden and the superintendent and take notice of the varsity administration's alleged victimising policy.

UVAS orientation
The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, has arranged a two-week orientation programme for the newly-admitted postgraduate (MPhil and PhD) students of the university.

According to a press statement, Chief Minister Inspection Team Member Tariq Ayub was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony in the university seminar room on Monday while Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz and other officials and faculty members were also present. Tariq Ayub said that the student orientation programme was a unique opportunity for students to acquire maximum knowledge and skills in a short time. He lauded the new academic programmes of the UVAS, especially the courses in management sciences and the SOP. The UVAS VC asked the students to be good at communications skills. He said the focus of the orientation programme was basics of research techniques, communication and IT skills and lab techniques.

Punjab University meeting
Lahore: The Punjab University Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) held a meeting on Monday and discussed study tour of the students and other various co-curricular activities. According to a press statement, ISCS Director Prof Dr Muhammad Hafeez chaired the meeting.

Meanwhile, Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran visited the newly constructed building of Hailey College of Commerce and inspected the examination centre established there. The News

University of Education BSIT education programme
Lahore: University of Education has started the BSIT education in Township Campus.It is 4 years degree programe. This session has started from 17th february. by Saad from Lahore, keepsmile30@gmail.com

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Arid University convocation on March 11
Rawalpindi: Tenth convocation of Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) will be held on March 11 on its premises.

Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer will preside over the convocation, said a press release. The university directed the successful graduates to ensure their registration by March 5.

They will attend pre-convocation rehearsal on March 10. Daily Times

Professors' body holds protests
Dera Ghazi Khan: The Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association held a demonstration in College Chowk here on Monday for acceptance of their demands.

Earlier, the association's division chapter held its convention at the Government College in which teachers from all four districts participated. Later, they took out a rally and staged a demonstration. However, they did not throw traffic out of gear.

Dr. Zahid Sheikh, Prof Iftikhar Hashmi, Prof Tanweer Shah, Prof Mohammed Bukhsh and Prof Mughees addressed the demonstrators and demanded enforcing the 1990 promotion formula to facilitate those teachers who were working on contract basis and providing allowances to all academics. Dawn

Survey begins for Danish schools
Rawalpindi: Survey for construction of schools under Danish School Systems Project worth Rs 10 million has started in Rawalpindi district on directions of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif.

This was revealed in the first meeting of Board of Governors of Danish Schools System with Rawalpindi DCO Imdadullah Bosal in the chair. The meeting was informed that various committees had been constituted to look after procedural work.

Saeed Mehdi, advisor to the Punjab CM, told the meeting that these schools aimed to provide talented students with quality education without any discrimination. Daily Times

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