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HEC miscalculating students' talent
ISLAMABAD, July 23 : Of so many
'elected' and 'selected' qualities of the federal capital, it also has a
department, assigned to set higher education standards for the entire
country.
This department was earlier known as University Grants Commission
(UGC), however, with the arrival of 'enlightened moderation' in the country, it
was modernised into Higher Education Commission (HEC).
After its making, HEC
took revolutionary steps for the improvement of educational system at university
level. Several reforms were introduced and certain criteria were set. Some time
ago, the commission also set standards for getting the job of a lecturer in
public sector universities; like the applicant must have first division/A Grades
throughout his/her academic career.
It wouldn't be an overstatement if one
called it a discriminatory policy towards people having a third division in any
of their degrees other than Master. Such people cannot apply for any teaching
positions.
Having third division in Master and being declared ineligible
makes sense but holding first class Master degree and not even called for
test/interview, owing to the third division in Matriculation or Intermediate
which has nothing to do with the subject to be taught, is beyond
comprehension.
It means that if someone improves, instead of getting reward,
gets penalty for it.
Assuming that a person who holds a third division
somewhere at the initial level of studies cannot be a good teacher is height of
miscalculation of one's abilities.
Divisions/percentages do not necessarily
guarantee that their achievers might turn out to be good teachers. There have
been certain examples that the people, who due to some reasons, could not
perform well in papers, turned out to be excellent teachers and leaders.
In
case of some disciplines such as English if an applicant with only second
division at all levels is eligible, why not a person having three first and one
third division or two first, one second and one third division.
Such people
do not aim to continue their studies, since they realize that even after having
performed extraordinarily at M. Phil or PhD level, they won't be able to get the
job of a lecturer at universities. And for doing some job in any private
organisation, they are not always required to have done post-Masters
studies.
Perhaps, it's high time that HEC reviewed its policy. The nation
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