Educational institutions barter system

Barter system prevails to show 100% results
Islamabad, March 12: In the race to show 100 per cent results, a number of educational institutions under the 'tight nose' of federal authorities have entered into a sort of 'barter system' while getting allotted each other's premises as examination centres.

The unfair arrangements are made for several institutions, particularly private ones, under the command of a central character of Farah Hameed Dogar case in the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), disclosed the board sources. Besides there is a large scale practice of declaring private schools and colleges, as examination centres ultimately helping them to get a free introduction among the parents and students.

A quick outlook of officially notified examination centres for Higher Secondary School Certificate part I&II annual examination 2010, speaks the reality, as to how the institutions, supposed to produce civilised generations, have manoeuvred the things to get a favourable atmosphere to come up with 100 per cent or excellent results.

"It is impossible without connivance of the FBISE authorities focusing on their personal interests rather pondering upon the fate of future builders of the nation," sources within the board said.

According to notification, Bahria College (E-8, Islamabad) is examination centre for the candidates of Fazia Intermediate College (E-9, Islamabad). Thus the same Fazia College is declared examination centre for Bahria College students.

Likewise, Prince Suleman College of Professional Education is examination centre for the students of Ali Trust College. The candidates from Prince Suleman College will have their centre at Ali Trust College.

In another such examples, Islamabad Model College for Boys (I 8/3) is announced to be examination centre for FG College of Commerce (H-8/4). And that FG College of Commerce (H-8/4) is centre for the students from Islamabad Model College for Boys (I-8/3).

The official sources within FBISE explained that often the managements of private schools and colleges get each other's buildings allotted for examinations, as superintendent and other staff members are taken from the host.

"Giving relaxation to the students and helping them in solving their papers through various means is general practice, but this kind of exercise cannot be carried without involvement of high-ups from the board," the sources added.

Approached for a comment, FBISE (Controller Examination) Manzoor Ahmed appeared with a different stand. He said that neither he nor the board has any bad intentions behind establishing examination centres at the premises of private schools and colleges. "Our first priority remains the setting up centres at government schools and colleges. However, with increase of students, we cannot cover all the students at public schools and colleges and that is the reason we select private institutions having vast space for conducting examinations," he added.

To a query, Manzoor Ahmed said that the board has made special arrangements this year to assign central inspectors who would conduct surprise visits of the centres to ensure transparency in the process. "As the inspectors would be taken from board and some from outside, but only those who are senior and well-reputed, the papers checking process is also being further tightened."

To another question, Manzoor Ahmed said the board is trying its level best to assign inspectors at all the examination centres rather for only a few ones. "We have not made arrangement for any private institution to promote it." The news

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Matric exam cancelled after paper leak
Quetta: The Balochistan education department cancelled on Thursday night English paper for annual matriculation examination scheduled to be held on Friday after several papers, the cancelled one among them, were leaked out.

Secretary Education Munir Minhas confirmed that English paper (A) had been cancelled.

Sources said that all seven papers had been leaked out and were in possession of many candidates.

Provincial Education Minister Tahir Mehmood ordered an inquiry into the leakage of papers."A three members committee headed by the additional secretary education has been set up to probe into the matter," the secretary education said, adding that the committee would submit its report in three days.

The education minister suspended the secretary and other staff of the secrecy branch of the Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Quetta with immediate effect. Dawn

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Medals for IT researchers
Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Thursday awarded gold medals with cash prizes to 12 students of various distinguished educational institutes of the country for the best research projects on IT & Telecom for the year 2009.

Cabinet Division Secretary Abdul Rauf Chaudhry, presented gold medals to the winners of the competition during a ceremony held here at PTA Headquarters with PTA Chairman Dr Mohammed Yaseen presiding over the moot.

PTA Member (Finance) Syed Nasrul Karim Ghaznavi and PTA Member (Technical) Dr Khawar Siddique Khokhar were also present on the occasion. The event was attended by faculty members of the universities, parents of the award winning researchers and representatives of the industry.

These gold medals have been awarded on the basis of a competition among accredited national universities called by PTA in April 2009 for the best research projects on IT & Telecom.

Various educational institutes responded nominated their students for the competition. A total 18 research projects were received from different universities, which were later on scrutinised and evaluated by a PTA committee.

On the basis of highest obtained marks four research projects were selected for the award of Rs50,000 each and gold medals for the 12 participants of these projects.

Addressing the ceremony, Cabinet Division Secretary Abdul Rauf Chaudhry said that PTA has taken this initiative proactively which should be appreciated and followed by the whole telecom industry especially by the operators to take maximum advantage from the research work of these young scholars.

Appreciating the winners of the competition he assured of the effective utilisation of these projects in the decision-making processes. He said that this scheme would go a long way in developing a strong relationship between the academia, industry and the relevant government organisations and would turn out to be exemplary for the rest of the sectors of our economy.

PTA chairman said that as reflected from the telecom indicators, growth in the telecom sector has been immense in recent past years. Similarly education sector has also shown tremendous growth in terms of adding an increased number of educational and professional institutions, development of faculty and students' enrolments whereas growth in research on IT & Telecom in Pakistan has not been proportionate, he added.

Therefore, he said, intense local research activities are need of the hour to sustain previous growth patterns. This step can be helpful in creating a strong industry-academia linkage, which would enable us to understand the views of researchers regarding pertinent issues faced by the industry.

"We can evaluate the practicability and level of implementation of these research projects at our levels and can bring improvements which could help us in achieving our goals," he added.

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PMAS-AAUR naat contest
Rawalpindi: An inter-faculty 'Naat Competition' was organised by the Directorate of Student Affairs at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) here on Thursday.

Students from all faculties participated in the competition, which was attended by a large number of students and faculty members.

Among 20 participants, Noman Raza of the Faculty of Agriculture was declared first, Atif Shahzad of the Institute of Information Technology was adjudged second and Asma Azam of the Faculty of Sciences got the third position.

PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Khan, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said that active participation of students in the 'Naat Competition' reflects their deep love for Allah Almighty and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He asked students to act upon the teachings of the Holy Qur'aan and Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him).

He prayed to Allah Almighty to bless students with intellectual thinking along with knowledgeand emphasised on the need for following the teachings of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) for betterment in this world and the hereafter. The news

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College teachers demands
Islamabad: Leader of the House in Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari has assured Islamabad Model Colleges Teachers' Association (IMCTA) that he would place their grievances before the Senate's Standing Committee on Education.

The delegation led by IMCTA President Irfan met Bokhari at the Parliament House on Thursday.

Bokhari said that he would convey to the committee the concerns of teachers pertaining to the non-implementation of defunct Islamabad High Court's (IHC) verdict on their regularisation. Daily times

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School teachers protest
Karak: The All Teachers Association (ATA) has threatened to close all schools of the district if their demands were not met till March 18.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the ATA held here on Thursday with its patron-in-chief Malik Noor Wali in the chair. A large number of teachers were also present.

Addressing the meeting, Malik Noor Wali Khan and Malik Rai Khan set March 18 as deadline to MPA Malik Qasim Kan Khattak for apologising over the misbehaviour of his brother and his armed aides with the EDO in his office a few days ago and resolving the issue peacefully.

They threatened if the lawmaker did not take steps for the restoration of the dignity of the EDO Hussamul Haq within the deadline they would close the schools on March 19 in the entire district as a protest. He asked the teachers to wear black bands on their arms from Friday as a sign of token protest and also display a black a banner on the main gate of each school.

Earlier, the leaders of various teachers' bodies condemned the attitude and action of the MPA and paid tributes to the EDO for taking a bold stand against the undue demand of the lawmaker. Dawn

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