Sindh university bachelor admissions tests 2009

SU conducts tests for admission
Hyderabad, Nov 9: The University of Sindh conducted on Sunday tests for admission to bachelor degree programmes in different disciplines in the faculties of arts, commerce and business administration, education, natural sciences, pharmacy, social sciences and Islamic studies.

As many as 8,376 candidates, 6621 of them boys and 1,755 girls, appeared in the tests.

The university had set up 159 test centres for boys and 44 for girls in classrooms of the three-story building, main ground and lawns of the faculty.

Sindh Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq, who is pro-chancellor of the universities in the province, paid surprise visit to the university and inspected arrangements for the test. He also visited some test centres.

In the evening, the university announced the result of the test which has been displayed at the university website which can be accessed at www.usindh.edu.pk.

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Sindh history project approved
Hyderabad: The advisory board of the Institute of Sindhology, University of Sindh, has approved a project for research on Sindh's history and the names of scholars to be associated with it.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the board which also decided to digitalise the material available in audio visual sections and research library of the institute.

The meeting constituted an editorial board for the research journal of the institute and decided that contents of the journal would be posted at the website of the institute.

It named scholars for the publication and research committees and members of executive committee of the institute.

The meeting decided that efforts would be made to preserve material related to the heritage of Sindh.

It approved the institute's annual budget, discussed the progress of its different sections and decided to improve their work by providing required facilities and technical training.

The meting decided to increase the timings of the research library of the institute to enable visitors to derive maximum benefit from there.

It decided to organise a series of lectures on folklore of Sindh to be delivered by Dr N.A. Baloch and hold monthly paintings exhibitions at the institute.

The meeting constituted a committee to review the aims and objectives of the institute and send its staff abroad for training in different fields of specialisation. Dawn

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English language and literature in schools
The promise of democracy is present at best in a project of resistance and possibility, one that is propelled by both a dream and a collective practice that makes justice, equality and freedom operational for all members of a democratic social order. -Henry Giroux

The process of socialisation owes its existence, strength, validation and perpetuation to a number of social institutions like family, schools, religion, the judiciary, media, etc.

In the past when the media was not that powerful and schools used to occupy the centre point in the process of socialisation, the processing of reality was largely done in schools.

In those times schools and families didn't have distinct boundaries to divide them. Similarly there was not a divide between religious and secular subjects. Consequently schools used to enjoy the extra power lent to them by families and religion. All these functions - the shaping of minds, the construction of realities, the validation of ideas, and the certification of knowledge - were performed by schools.

A number of rulers and imperial powers used education and schools to attain and maintain control over the masses by turning them into academic drones. A more familiar example can be found in British India when Thomas Macaulay, in his well-known educational document called the Minute (1835), used all his efforts to advocate that English is the best language and English literature is the best literature in the world and that Indian people must be exposed to them instead of Sanskrit and Arabic.

The insistence on the introduction of English language and literature and undermining and ridiculing Sanskrit and Arabic was not just a linguistic issue. Macaulay was aware that language is a strong identity marker of individuals and nations and it is crucial to replace indigenous languages with English language and literature in schools in order to "attempt to educate the body of the people. We must at present do our best to form a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern; a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in intellect." This challenging task could only be achieved through schools on two counts: a) the school as an institution was very powerful during those times and b) the outer realities were favouring the British.

Things have changed drastically in the last three decades. On the one hand the schools' capacity of construction, validation and perpetuation of knowledge is dwarfed by the overarching impact of the media that has an advantage over schools in terms of perpetuating its message in less time to more people and in a far more interesting manner.

The construction of reality that used to be the main domain of schools is now being successfully carried out by the media, like television and cellular phones. The process of learning is much more swift, engaging and effective as the children sit before a TV set where 'realities' are exposed to them in a subtle, innocent, but consistent manner.

This change of significance in social institutions has a direct implication for teachers, teacher educators and researchers as most of them are still expecting too much from school and teachers to bring social change in society. We need to realise that reform in the small circle of education can only be effective if the outer realities are not dominant. Progressive writers realised that the process of resistance would be ineffective if we are unable to realise the complex nature of the pressure of the outer socio-political realities.

The process of resistance needs a more diverse approach to take up the challenge of social change where different social institutions need to be involved and utilised. Keeping in view the enormity of the challenge and relatively limited position of schools, it is asking too much from schools to bring social change.

Since schools cannot do it alone the older strategy for resistance and social change needs to be revisited in the light of the changing times, changing realities and changing roles of social institutions. There is a need for diverse and inter-disciplinary pedagogies to communicate the message. These pedagogies need to make use of the media and diverse informal sources of education. This would also mean that we need to have a greater and more meaningful linkage with the other mediums, disciplines and communities to attain the socio-political objectives of education, i.e. development, equality, freedom, justice and critical citizenship. -Shahid Siddiqui

shahidksiddiqui@yahoo.com (Dawn)

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Iqbal Day to be observed today
Karachi: Iqbal Day marking the 132nd birthday of national poet Dr Allama Mohammad Iqbal will be celebrated on Monday (today) across the country with national fervour and enthusiasm. The government has declared holiday in the schools, colleges and universities. The nation

Iqbal Day exhibition
Karachi: The National Museum of Pakistan has organised a special exhibition to mark the 132nd birth anniversary of Allama Mohammad Iqbal, being observed on Monday. Allama Iqbal's chair, umbrella, turban, books, letters, photos and other belongings are on display. PPI

Iqbal's teachings beacon of light
Lahore: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has stressed the need to follow teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal to retrieve the country from various challenges it is facing. "The teachings of Iqbal are no doubt the beacon of light for our dear country, in the current circumstances", the Prime Minister said in his message on the birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal.

"He (Iqbal) included the elements of thought and strategy in the national affairs. He highlighted the sense of unity in Muslim Ummah and raised voice in favour of economic justice", Gilani said.

The Prime Minister said it would not be illogical to state that Iqbal's saying "Utho Meri Dunya Ke Gharibown Ko Jaga Do" was not a mere poetry but was a call to create such an economic system, which is free from deprivation, injustice and inequality. "This is the basis of idealogy which was termed as his vision by founder leader of PPP Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and included in the party's manifesto at the time of party's creation", he said. Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan People's Party still belongs to that ideology and "We are actively working towards its implementation".

"Time is witness and I can say it with full confidence that PPP is the saviour and champion of Iqbal's thinking, philosophy and ideals. Our government is striving to run and develop the country in accordance with the dreams of Allama Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Quaid-e-Awam Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed", he added. The Prime Minister said that the present government is striving for national security, development and welfare of masses in the circumstances which require national unity, reconciliation, consensus and futuristic vision and approach. "This is a welcome and encouraging fact that today the nation is unitedly playing its role in the fight against terrorism and is moving forward on a way, which was indicated by Allama Iqbal", he added.

Prime Minister Gilani said Allama Iqbal was such a visionary leader and thinkers who are born in centuries. "It was the vision of that great person, who for the first time, visualized Pakistan and presented the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of sub-continent", he added. Gilani said Iqbal is counted among those visionary and intellectuals, who changed the course of time and history.

The Prime Minister said Allama Iqbal, who was bestowed by God with great vision and intellect, emerged as a savior through his poetry and ideals in the world. "His poetry and lectures are considered and accepted as immortal litterateurs," he added. The Prime Minister said at a time when the Muslims of Sub-continent were facing unfavorable socio-economic and political conditions and needed a visionary leader, Allama Iqbal rekindled a new hope in the Muslims through his great poetry and thoughts.

"Let us resolve and renew the pladge - on the birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal - to vigorously and selflessly move on the path of security, progress and integrity of our dear country", he added. Meanwhile Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) chief Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that the teachings of Allama Iqbal are like a beacon of light to maintain tolerance, peace and stability in the society. In his message on occasion of Iqbal Day, Nawaz Sharif said that youth of the nation should transform themselves into Iqbal's 'Mard-e-Momin' and strive for self reliance within own resources and emphasized austerity envisioned by Allama Iqbal.

He stressed that Pakistan can only be redeemed through emulation of Iqbal's vision on democracy, human excellence and self reliance as perpetual rule of dictators weakened the national institutions, especially democracy. He further said that Allama Muhammad Iqbal was one of the great men of Islam and Pakistan, who dreamt for Pakistan, where brotherhood, social and economic justice would prevail.

"We must create a society according to the vision of great poet, who gave the idea of separate homeland for the muslims of the sub-continent where they can practice their Islamic values and culture," he urged. Iqbal's philosophical and human approach to save the Muslims from degradation, deprivation and destitute living is still a source of strength and guidance for us, Nawaz maintained. The nation

Youth urged to follow Iqbal's values
Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that we should resolve on the birth anniversary of the Poet of the East Allama Muhammad Iqbal that we will follow his principles and teachings and work with commitment and dedication for the socio-economic and political development of Pakistan as well as transforming it into an Islamic welfare state as was envisioned by the founders of the country. Paying rich tributes to Poet of the East Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Chief Minister said that Allama Iqbal created awareness in the Muslims of the sub-continent about the achievements of their forefathers and the glorious past of Islam. He said that due to the thinking and teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Muslims under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah succeeded in materializing the dream of Allama Iqbal on August 14, 1947. He said that the prevalent situation demands that we should follow the philosophy and teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal in letter and spirit and rise above linguistic, ethnic and sectarian differences and play our role for progress and prosperity of the country and restoration of peace. F.P Report

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Ali Gilani's book on Iqbal
Lahore: Veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gilani's book titled "Iqbal, Rooh-i-Din Ka Shanasa", was launched here on Sunday on the occasion of the Iqbal Day, says a press released issued by JI from Mansoora.

The book mainly portrays Islam's message conveyed by Allama Iqbal through his Persian poetry. It also projects the personality of Iqbal, his struggle for the revival of Muslim Ummah. APP

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