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Imran Khan's PU visit | Reforming the curriculum
Imran to visit PU
Lahore, May 03, 2008: A delegation of Insaf Students Federation (ISF) called on Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief here on Friday and during the meeting it was decided
that Imran Khan would soon visit the Punjab University to address varsity
students.
PTI chief lauded the working of ISF saying in a very short
span of time the PTI student wing had attracted a large number of students. He
urged the ISF students to play their role in movement for solidarity of the
country.
Meanwhile according to a press statement Imran Khan lauded the
efforts of ISF saying it had stood on strong foundations in a very short period
which was appreciable. Speaking on the occasion PTI central vice president Ijaz
Ahmed Ch said "We want end of monopoly in educational institutions" adding "It
is hoped that ISF students will win hearts of other students".
ISF
convener Ahmed Muaz said PTI student wing had established new traditions of
tolerance and respect for teachers adding the same would continue in future as
well. The Punjab University (PU) chapter ISF convener Muhammad Kamran, Lahore
chapter convener Muhammad Madani and PU organising committee's general secretary
Hafiz Farhat also spoke on the occasion.
Attendance in MAO College remains thin
Lahore: A thin attendance was recorded at the Government MAO College after
it reopened after three days on Friday.
A few number of students showed
up as parents of most of the students were reluctant to send their children to
the college fearing any untoward situation after the Monday's incident.
Meanwhile, college administration granted entry to the students after
strict checking so that non-student elements and outsiders could be stopped form
entering the campus building.
A number of students
demanded the government to ensure a peaceful academic atmosphere in the college
on permanent basis by kicking out all the non student elements.
They said
it was responsibility of the government to provide peaceful academic environment
for the students, adding that a permanent check should be kept on any kind of
non student activities inside the college.
They also demanded the
government to permanently purge the college from non-student elements of any
student group so that students could continue their studies with a peace of
mind.
A college teacher said most of the students did not turn up because
they were not allowed by their parents. However, the situation would improve
with the passage of time, he added.
The college administration also
closed down one of the college gates leading to Liaqatabad, an adjacent
locality, to stop entry of the outsiders from that side.
On Monday,
dozens of armed men pretending to be representatives of a student group had
tried to take possession of the college creating panic among the students,
teachers and staff alike.
Meanwhile, a large number of students
associated with MAO College's student group staged a protest demonstration
outside the Lahore Press Club and criticized the acting principal for his
alleged involvement in the Monday's incident. It is pertinent to mention here
that Prof Khan had, however, been denying any links with the student groups.
He said that those who were protesting against him had been
exploiting the situation for some ulterior motives. The News
Reforming the curriculum
At long last the new coalition government has found time to address some basic issues which have been
crying for attention. The other day the federal education minister presided over
a meeting of all the provincial textbook boards to review the development of
textbooks under the new curriculum. He also used the occasion to ask all the
participants to give their expert opinion within three weeks on the draft of the
education policy prepared by the Shaukat Aziz government. One hopes that our
education planners will show seriousness of purpose and the commitment to reform
the education system in such a way that academic standards are raised and
education becomes accessible to every child in Pakistan. One also hopes that the
policies which are formulated are implemented in good faith and do not remain on
paper only. This calls for an effective monitoring system to ensure that public
sector educational institutions actually function and the money earmarked for
them is used judiciously and is not embezzled.
An issue that came up for
discussion at the meeting in Islamabad was the curriculum that always emerges as
a matter of profound concern for every new government that assumes office in
Pakistan. This is not strange considering that policymakers have treated
education as a political tool to promote the interest of the government and not
of the country. Thus the curricula under Ziaul Haq's and Nawaz Sharif's
governments were loaded with a heavy ideological content seeking to inculcate
'Islamic beliefs' in the students and to make 'good Muslims' out of them,
leading to the growth of religious extremism. After 9/11, there was a lot of
rethinking on the issue and the policy draft that is under consideration speaks
of the curriculum being objective-driven and focusing on learning outcomes
rather than content. The main aim is defined as developing the capacity for
self-directed learning, the spirit of enquiry, critical thinking,
problem-solving and teamwork, none of which is questionable. Also to be lauded
is the suggestion to ensure the creation of awareness and knowledge of citizens'
rights, the environment and reproductive health. These guidelines are a vast
improvement over the earlier curricula, so long as emphasis is added on
cognitive, emotional and social development as had been envisaged in a concept
paper on the national curriculum prepared eight years ago by some experts for
the ministry of education. Of course a lot would depend on how these principles
are translated into the syllabus and the textbooks. Dawn
CPSP inter exams to be held in Peshawar
Peshawar: To provide a respite to the candidates, the College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP) has decided to conduct Intermediate Module
Examination in Peshawar, being conducted in other cities of the country
earlier.
This was decided at a meeting of the president of the College of
Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, Professor Zafarullah Chaudhry, with trainee
medical officers (TMOs), supervisors and faculty members here on
Friday.
The clinical examination of Intermediate Module would now be held
in Peshawar. Earlier, the examination was conducted in Lahore, Karachi and
Islamabad that caused numerous problems to the candidates. The meeting also
decided to upgrade regional centre of the CPSP. It was also decided that
registration, training and monitoring cell would also be upgraded. The problems
of the TMOs, including registration, training slot and supervisory problems were
also discussed at length.
Prof Zafrullah assured the TMOs that all their
problems would be addressed accordingly. Vice president Prof Daud Khan, regional
director CPSP, Prof Attaullah Jan, council members and large number of TMOs
attended the meeting. The News
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| Education News | | Updated: 25 May, 2012 |
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