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102 get best HEC teachers awards
Islamabad, Jan 27, 2008: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad hosted the 2nd
'Best University Teacher Awards' Ceremony to honour the dedicated efforts of
teachers to enhance the academic atmosphere in institutions of higher learning
in the country here on Saturday.
In all 102 awards of the years 2004,
2005, 2006 were conferred on teachers of 51 universities. The award includes a
cash prize of Rs100000 and a certificate. "The nation owes you a debt of
gratitude for your sincerity, hard work and honesty," said Dr Atta-ur-Rahman,
Federal Minister and Chairman Higher Education Commission said.
"Teachers
are the heart and soul of universities and the mentors that unleash the creative
talents of the students," said Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman. He said that 60 per cent of
HEC's programs were focused on creating high quality faculty. At present 2000
students were studying abroad and another 1200 more will be sent for their
foreign studies this year, revealed Chairman HEC.
"The landscape of
universities will begin to change once these students begin to return and 260
scholars are expected to return this year. He told the august gathering of the
steps the HEC had taken to attract the brightest people to opt for academia as a
profession," he added.
He said that the 'Tenure Track System' in which a
professor could earn over Rs300,000 a month and university teachers being
awarded a one step ahead promotion along with a 75 per cent tax rebate were all
steps to provide a financially secure environment to enable them to do justice
to their profession.
He said the present period will be remembered, as
the golden period in higher education since the government had given the highest
priority to higher education.
He strongly corrected that misperception
that higher education received more money than the lower education sector. At
present higher education receives only one-seventh of that given to primary and
secondary education.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr Riaz-ul-Haque
Tariq, member academics while lauding the teachers, said that the reward should
now mark more zeal on the part of the honoured teachers to excel further in
their fields. "You will often experience resistance to breaking inertia, but HEC
had done that and achieved much during the last five years." The nominations for
2007 award will be invited from the universities and/degree awarding
institutions in February 2008, for, which the ceremony is planned to be held in
June 2008. The News
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