NED university new date for entry test 2009
Hundreds suffered as NED puts off test at 11th hour
Karachi, Oct 5: Unaware that the entry test for admissions to the NED
University of Engineering and Technology had been postponed, hundreds
of candidates turned up at the Expo Centre, the venue of the tests, on
Sunday only to return disappointed. The NED University
through a newspaper advertisement informed all candidates that the
entry test had been postponed but the information was received only by
those who picked up the particular newspapers and read the advertised
notice before 7am or 8am, i.e. before leaving for the test, on Sunday.
All the other hundreds of candidates learnt about the postponement of
the test when they arrived at the Expo Centre. It was,
however, disappointing to note that the administration of the NED
University administration neither put up any notice nor did it ensure
the presence of its officials at the test venue on Sunday to inform the
candidates about the 11th hour change in the programme. A
number of candidates, including girls who spoke to Dawn at the Expo
Centre criticised the university administration for causing
inconvenience to them, saying that had the university officials made
proper publicity of the postponement, the disappointment and trouble
they experienced would have been averted. They also spoke of hardship
of the rickety public transport and the scorching heat they had to endure
to reach the Expo Centre.
NED announced new date for entry test
Karachi: The NED University has announced that the entry test will
now be held on Oct 11 (Sunday) on the main campus of the university.
Sources in the university administration said that the Oct 4 test had
to be postponed because of some "sudden unexpected changes in the terms
and conditions" communicated to the NED officials concerned only on Oct
1 by the director of the Expo Centre.
The NED University has also extended the date for submitting
application forms (regular and self-finance) for admissions to the
university for the academic session 2009-10. More than 6,000
candidates have already applied for admissions to the university. Dawn
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Political influence in higher learning institutions
Karachi: Representatives of teachers' community have said that the
reward of some certificates for teachers on the occasion of World
Teachers' Day cannot solve the genuine problems of the teachers'
community, as teachers need peace of mind to perform their most vital
role in the society. The government is supporting immoral and
illegal activities in the higher learning institutions (college and
universities) of the province by not evacuating such institutions from
the influence of political and notorious elements, they said on Sunday
while talking to The Nation on the occasion of World Teachers' Day. World
Teachers' Day, held annually on October 5 since 1994. It commemorates
the anniversary of the signing of UNESCO/ILO Recommendation in 1966
concerning the status of teachers. It is an occasion to celebrate the
essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all
levels. Central leader Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association
(SPLA) Prof Ather Hussain Mirza said that teachers and educational
institutions in the province had been kidnapped by the political and
criminal elements, while the government was going to observe the world
day. He said the government had become lethargic towards the
difficulties of the teachers. Sindh Education Department has
failed to complete the required number of teachers, which is 8,800 for
the whole province, whereas only 5,500 teachers are serving in all the
public colleges in Sindh, he said. "The department did not want
teachers, especially college teachers, to educate students with peace
of mind hence they engaged teachers in different basic issues. As per
the UNESCO, World Teachers' Day 2009, which is being observed with the
theme "Build the future: invest in teachers now!", puts spotlight on
the global teacher shortage and the challenges of being a teacher
today." Mirza said that in our rapidly changing and interdependent
world, teachers not only had to ensure that students acquire solid
skills in basic subjects, but also that they become responsible
citizens with a know-how to the new technologies and able to make
informed decisions about health, the environment and other challenges.
"Sustained investment is required to develop a well-trained and
motivated teaching force. A global total of 10.3 million teachers
should be recruited between 2007 and 2015 just to meet the goal of
universal primary education. At a time when the global economic
slowdown risks putting tight constraints on education budgets, it is
critical that governments support the recruitment, training and
professional development of teachers," he added. Prof Muzaffar Rizvi, another SPLA leader, said that teachers were
living under miserable conditions, but the government was not
interested in solving the basic economic problems of the teachers. He
said, "College teachers are suffering with low salaries. Their
promotions are withheld for long times, while up-gradation of teachers
under four-tier formula is also suspended since 2005. Health problems
have become dilemma for teachers and their families, as they are
deprived of health insurance and other facilities, providing by the
government." A government school teacher, on condition of
anonymity, said that the Sindh education department's decision to
reward two extraordinary teachers (one male & one female) from each
district with a certificate of appreciation and shield on occasion of
world teachers' day was not a solution to teachers' problems. It
is pertinent to mention here that the Directorate of Literacy and
Non-Formal Basic Education, Education & Literacy Department
Government of Sindh has decided to reward two extraordinary teachers
from each district with a certificate of appreciation and shield on
occasion of World Teachers' Day. He said, "The education
department is staging a show to explain its sincerity for teachers
community, but on the other hand families of teachers are suffering
with hunger. In Pakistan more than 52 million people, above the age of
10, are totally illiterate, while two thirds of them are women. In the
said meagre situation, teachers are living under the poverty line in
the country." "Conversely, in official letters, issued to all
Executive District Officers (Education) in the province to nominate two
best and extra-ordinary teachers, Director Literacy Abdul Wahab Abbasi
claimed, "We strongly believe that World Teachers' Day should be
celebrated with full enthusiasm, sincerity and with a commitment to
aware and highlight to the community for contributions of teaching
profession for the development of the nations," he added.
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Sindh government to upgrade the scales of teachers
Karachi: Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister Ms Sharmila Farooqui
has said that the Sindh government will soon upgrade the scales of
teachers from BPS-7 to 9, 9 to 11 and 11 to 13 and provide Rs1,000
monthly allowance to them. "The matter is under the consideration of
the Sindh government and teachers will soon hear a good news. Shaheed
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had also upgraded the scales of teachers during his
government era, and we are also committed to promote teachers so that
they could earn respectable livelihood for their families and pass
their lives with dignity in the society," Sharmila said in a statement
on the eve of the World Teachers Day to be observed on October 5, 2009
(today). She said that teachers in Sindh are being appointed on pure
merit under the World Bank's Reform Program. "The recent tests for the
appointment of PSTs, JSTs and HSTs in Sindh province were held in a
transparent manner under the control of Sindh University Jamshoro and
the format of these tests was prepared by IBA Sukkur, "she said. CM's
advisor said that there are 3000000 teachers throughout the country,
out of which Sindh has only 250000. However, the PPP government as per
vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is committed to appoint more teachers
so as to raise literacy rate to 100 percent. She said that the World
Bank has linked its financial aid to pure merit and promotion of
education in Sindh, therefore the PPP government is working on various
projects to bring revolutionary reforms in this sector. Sharmila
said that teachers play vital role in building the future of students
who after receiving education could lead the country towards the
progress and prosperity. She said that the PPP government is also
making efforts to raise standard of education in colleges and
universities, and that is why lecturers and professors are being sent
abroad on scholarships for receiving higher education in various
fields, particularity in Science and Technology. "Efforts are also
afoot to provide teaching jobs to women at par with the men as it is
the motto of PPP to encourage women in every sector of life," Sharmila
maintained. They advisor said that teachers should also play their
due role for ousting political culture from educational institutions
through their lectures and try to induce the students towards better
study culture. The nation
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Ceremony for position holders
Karachi: Sindh Education Department organised on Sunday a shield
distribution ceremony to congratulate the 21 position holders of
Matriculation and Intermediate examinations of 2009 of all education
boards of Sindh. Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq was the chief
guest, while Advisor to Chief Minister Rashid Rabbani and Secretary
Education Rizwan Memon also attended the event. Haq said, "We pledge
today, on World Teachers' Day, to develop the education system and
remove disparity in standard of education all across Pakistan,
especially in Sindh." Haq also said that the Punjab Education
Department has invited the position holders to visit different
universities, historical places and to see their culture, adding that
they would also invite the students of Punjab to visit different
historical places of Sindh. Others who were present at the event
included senior officers of education departments, principals and
teachers of different schools and colleges, and the position holders
and their parents. Daily times
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