|
|
|
|
World Literacy Day | British visa centre Islamabad
World Literacy Day to be observed on Sept 8
Islamabad, Sep 05, 2008: International Literacy Day (ILD) will be marked on September 8
across the globe with the slogan 'Literacy is the Best Remedy.'
This
year, the theme will place special focus on the vital relationship between
literacy and health, a private news channel reported.
Unesco and its
partners are underlining the significance of literacy for healthy societies,
with a strong emphasis on epidemics and communicable diseases such as HIV,
tuberculosis and malaria, which are some of the world's most important public
health concerns.
Each year on the Day, Unesco reminds the international
community of the global status of literacy and adult learning. International
Literacy Day 2008 will look notably at literacy and its links with general
health care, nutrition, family and reproductive health, and health-related
community development.
Literacy is an integral aspect of the universal
right to education along with being an essential basis for improving health
conditions.
According to Unesco, literacy is a cause for celebration,
since there are now close to four billion literate people in the world. However,
literacy for all including children, youth and adults is still an unaccomplished
goal and an ever-moving target.
A combination of ambitious goals,
insufficient and parallel efforts, inadequate resources and strategies, and
continued underestimation of the magnitude and complexity of the task accounts
for this unmet goal.
Lessons learnt over recent decades show that
meeting the goal of universal literacy calls not only for more effective efforts
but also for renewed political will and doing things differently at local,
national and international levels.
"Literacy is a powerful yet too often
overlooked remedy to health threats, with the potential to promote better
nutrition, disease prevention and treatment."
According to the Unesco
statement, research has demonstrated the direct correlation between people's
level of literacy and their chances to maintain good health.
Ministry of
Education, public departments and civil society organisations would hold
different activities including seminars and rallies to mark the Literacy Day.
Similarly, the Day would be celebrated with great enthusiasm by students of
different educational institutions with an aim to promote literacy in the
country and achieve enhanced literacy rate. The News
Post your comments
British visa centre closed
Islamabad: The British High Commission on Thursday closed its visa
application centre for an indefinite period due to security concerns. "We have
closed the visa application centre after receiving a threatening phone call," a
British High Commission official said. She said that the closure was
temporary and the centre would resume its operation after assessing the threat.
She, however, did not elaborate on the nature of the threat. Daily Times
Your Comments
"A back step action by the officials. There has been a time of Pakistans severe turmoil with neighbouring country in the past years, officials of BHC that time provided visa services uninterruptedly. This action would not only downgrade students trust who are doing IELTS or other stuff for higher studies in the UK, would also make returning residents unhappy. On the economic side when there are rumours of recession in some parts of europe UK might loose the money contributed by Pakistani students in sake of higher educations. In the light of above I would like to request the UK High Commission Officials to reopen the visa section as soon as possible Thanks A.I. Uk Pakistan Friendship Zinda Bad."
Name: Mr. A.I.C
Email: accounting.calculations@gmail.com
City, Country: GRW, Pakistan
"I am extremely upset about the temporary closure of the UK visa centre in Islamabad. I strictly condenm the threat and demand the Pakistani government to take an immediate strong action against such unlawful and insane act. I urge the official authority of UK visa centre to please restore the UK visa centre as soon as possible. All my good wishes with you guys. God bless all of us. Regards Ganesh."
Name: Ganesh Kumar Rajput
Email: ganesh_rajput18@yahoo.com
City, Country: Karachi, Pakistan
Post your comments
People demand shifting of private edu institutes from twin cities
Islamabad: Due to lethargic or criminal negligence on the part of
authorities concerned, commercial activities in the residential areas of twin
cities are causing worst traffic jams.
It was observed that poplar
avenues and residential areas of Islamabad are overwhelmed by schools, colleges
and universities thus multiplying the miseries of motorists and passengers who
have to wait in queue for hours in order to pass by such places.
The popular
avenues and residential areas of twin cities that are being used as commercial
hubs include Pitras Bokhari Road, Nazim-ud-Din Road, Satellite Town, Bank Road,
adjoining areas of Commercial Market and several other areas of he twin
cities.
It has been witnessed that Pitras Bokhari Road in Islamabad that
stretches from TNT Colony, G-8 to H-8 sector is overwhelmed with private
schools, a medical college, a university and a private hospital. The famous
graveyard of H-8 is also situated on this road. However, H-8 graveyard and the
famous hospital located on the aforementioned road contain spacious area for
parking, which can easily accommodate maximum number of visitors. But in case of
the death of any renowned personality whose body is brought for burial in H-8
graveyard, the parking area proves insufficient and motorists have to park their
vehicles down the road thus creating traffic mess.
The schools, colleges and
universities located at Pitras Bokhari Road lack proper parking area. As a
consequence, teachers, students and parents who visit the school to pick and
drop their children, have to park their vehicles on the road. Worst traffic jams
are often seen at Pitras Bokhari Road in the wee hours. The traffic jams are
frequent at morning time from 8 am to 1 pm, and in the afternoon from 1 pm to 3
pm. "It's a pity that such leading schools who spare no time to demand heavy
fees from students , cannot invest a little on the construction of parking
areas", lamented Alia Jatoi, mother of a student.
Likewise, Nazim-ud-Din Road
is witnessing same kind of situation where some leading schools are operating
but they lack any proper parking areas.
The same sort of traffic jam is also
seen in the morning and afternoon but Capital Development Authority (CDA) has
adopted an ignorant attitude towards the matter since the owners of such
institutions happen to be influential and privileged people, who are always
ready to "negotiate" with the governmental high ups and "accommodate" them. "We
have to crawl at snails pace to cross Nazim-ud-Din Road" deplored Ali
Azher.
In addition, Satellite Town and other areas of Rawalpindi are no
exceptions where similar kind of situations as mentioned above are frequent and
a source of nuisance. The inhabitants of these areas have demanded of the
government that such institutes that lack proper parking and spacious areas must
not be allowed to operate. The CDA and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA)
must not issue 'No Objection Certificates (NOC's)' to such institutes that
fleece the students but lack even basic amenities including parking lots,
suggested Fayaz-ul-Hassan a former bureaucrat.
People have demanded of the
government to take immediate measures to let the educational institutions
operate in isolated and less crowded areas. The shifting of International
Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) from Faisal Mosque to H-10 and that of
Comsats from H-8 to Chak Shehzad are praise worthy examples, to be quoted in
this regard. The new campuses of both these well-reputed educational
institutions contain huge and spacious areas for parking and other educational
amenities including playgrounds and hostels. The Nation
Post your comments
Lively 'Monsoon Festival' at International Grammar School & College (IGSC)
Islamabad: International Grammar School & College (IGSC) hosted a
spectacular 'Monsoon Festival' in its sprawling 2-acre ground in the heart of
Sector F-11, says a press release.
It was a fun-filled evening with
glittering lights, children's laughter on merry-go-rounds and young girls
gathered at jewellery and henna stalls.
Another attraction of the event
was the oldest potter from Saidpur Village, who worked away on his potter's
wheel and managed to attract quite many young students with his skill.
Adding to the delightful festival was live music performances by a local
band and a fashion show that was exclusively for girls. The food court was full
of scrumptious meals from Pizza Hut, KFC, Dunkin Donuts and Hanif Rajput along
with stalls put up by parents, offering homemade food items.
IGSC and
'Payaam', an NGO, work together to fulfil the special needs of disabled people.
The College Section of IGSC at its premises offers a specially constructed
step-free access for students using wheelchairs as well as the added incentive
of a special scholarship scheme, enabling disabled students to pursue quality
education. The News
Post your comments
Students accuse OPF College clerk of malpractice, demand probe
Islamabad: Owing to negligence on the part of authorities concerned, a clerk
of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) College has allegedly deprived the
students of admission in the next session is despite receiving heavy fees.
Besides, a series of irregularities and corruption in the college is continued
unabated.This was disclosed by reliable sources.
Raja Amjad Iqbal, a clerk, at OPF College has allegedly swallowed
Rs 5,00,000 during the admission process. The source further stated that there
seems no discipline at the College at any level, in the absence of the head of
the college who often remained on leave.
It was learnt that the
parents of the students received notification from College administration
regarding fee submission. The students along with their parents told the
college administration that they have already deposited admission fee. But they
have come to know from the Principle Office that the said clerk did not transfer
the fee in the college account.
Director
Education OPF, Brigadier (Retd) Farogh Anjum said that clerk; Amjad Iqbal has
already been suspended from the college. But the parents of the students want
their money back from the college administration who are not probing into the
matter accordingly.
The parents said that they have received
warning letters from the Principle Office, which intimidated them to deposit the
admission fee, otherwise they would not be considered eligible for the next
session. "But when we approached the Principle, he was not present in the
office, as usual, and acting Principle turned a deaf ear. Now where should we go
as no one is out there to hear our hue and cry," they lamented.
When the
matter was brought to the notice of Director Education OPF, Brigadier (R) Farogh
Anjum, he expressed his ignorance towards the entire episode while initiating an
inquiry as to who lodged complaints against Raja Amjad. Later, he told this
scribe that he took stern action against the clerk in some cases of misconduct
and he has already been suspended and put into jail. He told that if someone has
objection regarding the misconduct, corruption and discipline must approach him
with written proves.
He further said, "I would never comment against my
department's officials, as I have no authority to comment over official
matters", he remarked while ignoring all the objections.
While rejecting the
accusations levelled against his staffer ,he commented that against whom he
would take action? He was of the view that there was no big problem anywhere,
as no one has lodged any complaint with him.
He proudly said that he
believed on procedurals system. He said that he could only take action if some
thing was wrong in the officials' files. "Now how I can take action without
approaching the files, as objections are yet to be filed against anyone" he
argued.
" The accused clerk has been put behind the bars but not due to his
massive corruption but due to some private matters. He is now resting in jail
and no inquiry is possible during his detention and who will return our money
back", parents of the students questioned? The Nation
Post your comments
|
|
|
|
 |
| Post your Comments/ Views about the news. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Education News | | Updated: 26 May, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
