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HEC considering English exam for university students
LAHORE, July 30: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to
make the passing of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
compulsory for teachers at public sector universities from 2008 but should the
test be made mandatory for graduate level students will be decided after public
sector universities vice chancellors (VCs) give their opinion in this regard,
HEC Quality Insurance Advisor Dr Riaz Qurashi said on
Sunday.
Qureshi said that a couple of days ago the HEC had circulated a
letter to VCs of public sector universities that from 2008 new faculty members
had to pass the TOEIC and that from 2009 master's students would also have to
pass the test and the HEC would help universities in this regard. He said the
purpose of the test was to build the capacity of faculty members and master's
level students by improving their English language skill.
He said the HEC
was committed to making this test mandatory for newly appointed lecturers,
assistant professors, associate professors and professors. He said the
commission was waiting for VCs' response on making the test obligatory for
master's students. He said the students of oriental studies might be exempted
from the test.
Qureshi said whether the National Testing Service (NTS)
or the universities would conduct the test, would be decided in a meeting with
VCs. He said the HEC would monitor the testing to guarantee the validity of the
test. He said foreign universities were asking the commission to implement such
type of testing to increase students' communication skills in
English.
Acting HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that the
HEC had received various complains from foreign universities that Pakistani
graduate students had difficulties in communicating in English and that the
level of master's degree was low. He said such students were a disgrace for the
country and to tackle the problem the test was being considered to make
obligatory for master's students. He said the HEC had along been planning to
implement such a test. He said there were three purposes of the test – to
improve students' communication skills, to increase the worth of Pakistani
master's degree and to hire faculty at universities that possessed good
communication skills. He said the HEC was committed to implementing TOEIC for
hiring new faculty at public universities.
Mukhtar said the students of
Punjabi and Arabic would have difficulties in taking the test but taking the
test would increase the worth of their degree. He said the final decision would
be taken next month after universities' proposal on implementing the
test.
Punjab University Registrar Dr Naeem Khan said the university had
circulated the HEC letter to all deans of the university and faculty members for
their comments regarding the test. He said the HEC's proposal would be discussed
in the board meeting with but that he was of the opinion that the test should be
implemented in all public universities.
Punjab University Academic Staff
Association (PUASA) president Dr Mumtaz Ahmad Salik has only opposed the HEC's
so far. Daily times
Your Comments
"SUCH SORT OF TESTS SHOULDBE CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS.THIS SHOULDB UPGRADED AT GRASS ROOT LEVEL FROM PRIMARY TILL SECONDARY EDUCATION SO THAT PROBLEMS DONOT AROUSE AT HIGH LEVELS."
Name: MAH-E-UROOJ
Email: mah-e-urooj@hotmail.com
City, Country: karachi, Pakistan
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| Education News | | Updated: 24 May, 2012 |
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