HEC devolution | Universities contract officers

HEC devolution on track
Islamabad, May 09: The government has refused to accept the PML-Q's demand to maintain the federal status of the Higher Education Commission and the 18th Amendment Implementation Commission is working on legislation to decide its fate.

The demand was made during the talks the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q's held with President Asif Ali Zardari before the Q-League joined the ruling coalition.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said it had been made clear to the PML-Q leaders that while the functions related to curriculum, standardisation of education and foreign scholarships could not be devolved to the provinces, the devolution plan would not be changed.

The implementation commission's chairman, Mian Raza Rabbani said he had not received any instructions from the president for any change in the devolution plan or legislation.

"So far as the implementation commission is concerned, it is in the process of drafting a new law to determine the functions of a new body which will replace the HEC and those to be devolved to the provinces. We will discuss it with all stakeholders, including the HEC and universities," he said.

According to sources, the PML-Q has been told that any alteration in the plan may jeopardise the process of devolution. Dawn

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AIOU exams for ATTC, PTC, CT and BEd
Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will hold examinations of ATTC, PTC, CT and BEd programmes for Semester Autumn, 2010 from today (Monday).

AIOU Controller of Exams Hafeezullah said the exams would be held simultaneously across the country and roll no slips for these programmes have been dispatched to all the eligible/enrolled students at their given addresses by Postal Mail Service.

The students who have not received their roll no slips so far are advised to contact the nearest regional office of the university or Superintendent Teacher Education Section, Examinations Department for issuance of Duplicate Roll No Slip. For duplicate Roll No slip, students are required to bring two passport size photographs duly attested by the gazetted officer.

The roll no slip along with date sheet has also been placed on AIOU website www.aiou.edu.pk for the convenience of students. All students are also advised in their own interest to read the instructions mentioned on Roll No. Slip carefully before entering into the examination centre. The news

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AIOU completes scrutiny of admission forms
Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has finalized the first portion of its admissions for the Spring Semester 2011 after scrutinizing the admission forms, announced Director Admissions Sohil Nazir Rana on Sunday.

He said the information about the objectionable forms, from Matric to Ph.D level in different disciplines, has been placed on www.aiou.edu.pk.

These students are requested to immediately contact the Admission Department of the university.

In case students do not contact the office by May 10, 2011, their admission forms would be considered null and void. Daily times

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FAPUASA backs sacking of contract officers
Peshawar: Central President of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) Prof Dr Fida Mohammad has lauded the decision to sack the contract officers at the Khyber Pakh-tunkhwa Public Service Commission and Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan and urged the quarters concerned to implement the Supreme Court verdict in all the universities and other departments.

Prof Fida Mohammad said it was a grave injustice to the senior faculty members of all the public sector universities that retired officials were reappointed on contractual basis. He said it was high time that all the institutions implemented the Supreme Court orders in letter and spirit.

Dr Fida Mohammad, who was recently elected as central head of the university teachersÕ body, also showed concern over the disparity in PhD allowance for the faculty members in the universities of Khyber Pakh-tunkhwa. He said the PhD allowance in Punjab had been increased from Rs5,000 to Rs10,000. He said the allowance in other provinces should also be brought on par with that of Punjab. He warned that the teachers would be compelled to take to streets if the allowance was not increased by June 30.

Dr Fida Mohammad also stressed the need for strengthening the regional offices of the Higher Education Commission. ÒHEC is indeed playing a great role in promotion of higher education,Ó he said, calling for equal representation in HEC to all the provinces so that the monopoly of Punjab in this prestigious institution could be brought to an end.

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Students exhibit a different but positive view
Islamabad: Every year, Marketing Specialisation students of BBA are assigned the task of organising a fashion show, which becomes a benchmark for the years to come. For students, it means three things, a lot of work, late stays on the campus and vulnerable group dynamics.

Khirad Fashion Show had its unique theme of breaking free from the stereotypes and letting the world know that today s youth takes a different but positive view of things. The name Khirad came from Allama Iqbal s Saqi Nama where he envisions a powerful youth and states khirad ko ghulami se azaad kar, jawano ko peeron ka ustad kar (to let people empower youth and let them lead the nation).

Khirad Fashion Show was held on Friday at NUST Business School. The whole event, from ambiance and logistics to the promotion and segments development was organised by the marketing batch of BBA 2k7. The project was headed by Assistant Professor of Marketing Department s Zeenat Jabbar.

The fashion show had an extravagant ambiance with a beautiful ramp of infinity symbol denoting youth s approach to be beyond boundaries. Segments included Techciting, Wingman and Money Makers signifying the nerds have a special style statement, traditional Shadi wear can take a different look and money makers are not always the way we look at them, their style is unique as their work is. Song selection to the dresses and to the walks, everything was well managed.

BBA 2k7 s marketing batch pulled it off in an awesome manner despite the rain and windstorm, which ruined all their set-up just 3 hours before the main event. But their persistence and perseverance made them have all things well in place before the event and make the show a huge success with an approximate audience of 700 students and 120 VIP guests from media, sponsors and parents of the organisers. Sponsors of the event were BNS couture, Nishat Mills, Shahraj Fabrics, Murree Brewery, Allied Bank, Al Basit Associates and XSS Sounds and Studios. Geo News and The News were the main players for media coverage. The chief guest for the show was the Dean and D.G of NUST Business School and a very popular economist Dr. Ashfaque Hassan Khan. The news

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School without electricity for four months
Batkhela: The students and teachers of Centennial Model School Batkhela are facing difficulties as the educational institution has been without electricity for the last four months.

Established in 1913 as a primary school, it was upgraded to middle level in 1954 and high level in 1959. It is the only model school in the Malakand protected area but it also lacks facilities like office of principal, examination hall, water supply and lavatories.

The students have to perform the duty of watchman at the main gate as there is no sentry in the school.

Sources said that army spent a huge amount to set up a computer laboratory at the school, but it could not be made functional owing to absence of a computer instructor.

The costly computers are lying useless and students have been deprived of getting computer education.

The students said that during the simmering heat it became difficult for them and teachers to concentrate on their studies. They said that the power transformer was out of order since February, but the authorities concerned failed to replace it.

They said that due to suspension of electricity, they could not work in the science laboratories and the costly equipments were lying unutilised. They said that the overcrowded classrooms also badly affected their studies.

The district executive officer education, Mushtaq, when contacted, said the transformer could not be repaired owing to paucity of funds.

However, he said that soon it would be repaired to provide energy facility to the school.

About the computer lab, he said that the school had no post of the computer instructor so it was not possible for the administration to take responsibly for using costly computers. Dawn

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