Punjab Colleges BS (Honours) results
BS (Honours) results encouraging against all odds
Lahore, July 18: The four-year BS (Honours) degree programme launched in 26 public sector colleges in Punjab has completed its
first phase as all universities concerned declared the results of the first
semester examination - Punjab University being the last to declare results as
late as on July 12. The examinations were held in March this year.
The four-year BS (Honours) degree programme was launched last year amidst
strong resistance from teachers' associations, who were demanding that the
government should first ensure provision of infrastructure as well as
well-qualified and experienced faculty before formal launch of the
programme.
The programme was, however, launched with a commitment that the government
has earmarked Rs500 million for it - Rs250 million for the infrastructure
development and Rs250 million for faculty for four years.
The Punjab higher education department also constituted a board of governors
(BoGs) for each college. The BoGs could not function for some months initially
due to litigation but despite holding their maiden meetings they could not get
the funds released and the colleges remained without required infrastructure and
faculty for new disciplines.
Soon after the transfer of former higher education secretary Ahad Cheema, the
department lost interest as it did not follow the programme so actively as it
was required to do so. An official who was the focal person to actively pursue
the programme became the biggest hurdle as he was not interested in the
assignment.
The first semester examination results are encouraging as the pass percentage
among those who appeared touches almost 90 per cent. While there was also a big
dropout of students - especially in the newly-launched disciplines like
information technology and business administration. In Lahore, as many as 3,944
students were enrolled in the first semester in six colleges out of whom 1,093
students (27.71 per cent) dropped out mainly due to the non-availability of
infrastructure and qualified faculty.
In a communication to the higher education department, the Government MAO
College principal had stated that almost 326 students had left the college
during the first semester. Most probably, he stated, the students preferred a
two-year degree programme and got admissions to other colleges.
The Government College of Science, Wahdat Road, principal stated that there
was an acute shortage of physical as well as human resources to continue the
programme successfully. The Government Post-Graduate College for Women,
Samanabad, principal also stated that the BS four-year degree programme would be
running smoothly and a greater number of students would take admission if better
facilities were ensured in the college.
In Multan, two colleges had enrolled 1,290 students out of whom 358 students
(27.75 per cent) have so far dropped out.
In Government Sadiq Egerton College, Bahawalpur, 551 students had got
admission out of whom 142 (25.77 per cent) dropped out.
While the respective universities that have affiliated these 26 colleges have
given date-sheets for the second semester examination, the stakeholders
including students and teachers demand that the higher education department
should adopt a pro-active approach towards the four-year BS (Honours) degree
programme by getting the funds released for infrastructural and faculty
development as well as making the respective colleges' BoGs functional. Dawn
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UHS proposes junior for pro-VC slot, says PMA
Lahore: The local chapter of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Sunday claimed that University
of Health Sciences (UHS) moved a summary to the Punjab chief minister for the
appointment of ex-Controller of Examinations Dr Junaid Sarfaraz as Pro-Vice
Chancellor bypassing senior professors of the university. In a press
release issued here, the PMA Joint Secretary said that the UHS administration
had neglected 10 senior professors, who had been serving the institute for years
and moved a summary to appoint a 'favourite' as Pro-VC. The PMA appealed to
Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif not to appoint a junior candidate over senior
professors, adding that if it was inevitable to appoint a junior person as
Pro-VC then all senior professors may be given pre-mature retirements so that
they are not embarrassed once a junior person becomes the pro-VC. "The principle
of seniority-cum-fitness should be followed and an appointment be made from the
top six senior professors of the university," the PMA demanded. The news
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Strike threat if VCs not appointed as per old system
Lahore: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff
Association's Punjab chapter has decided to launch a protest movement from July
22 in case the Vice-Chancellors of Zakariya University Multan, Sargodha
University, University of Education and GC University Lahore are not appointed
in accordance with the old system. According to a FAPUASA statement, issued
here on Sunday, the Association would observe a black day and boycott the
classes. This was decided in a Punjab chapter's meeting held under the
supervision of President Prof Dr Saeed Akhtar. The Association general
secretary and UETTSA President Prof Dr Zafar Noon, provincial secretary and
ZUASA President Dr Abdul Qadus, GCUASA Vice-President Dr Muhammad Zahid Qureshi
and EUASA Vice-President Abdul Majeed attended the meeting. The participants
of the meeting told the media persons that educational and administrative
matters of the universities were worsening day by day owing to the absence of
regular VCs of the abovementioned universities. They said that so far budget of
the Zakariya University has not been approved and students doing research papers
in other countries are unable to continue their work. The participants
further said that meeting of the teacher bodies as well as research and
development works are at the stoppage position. The Association's
representatives have also decided to meeting with the Punjab CM and the
Chancellor (Governor) to convey them the ongoing situation and problems of the
universities. They demanded that old system and process to appoint the vice
chancellors should be restored for the stability and continuity of education
institutions, they said. The nation
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Livestock sector can change fate of national economy: UVAS VC
Lahore: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz
said on Saturday that the livestock sector had potential to transfer the fate of
national economy. Talking to a delegation of Sindh Agriculture University
(SAU), he said that there was a need to introduce revolutionary changes in the
livestock sector through modern practices and research. A 68-member students
delegation from the SAU, Tandojam, and faculty of the Animal Husbandry and
Veterinary Science (AHVS) visited the UVAS on Saturday. The delegation, led
by Abdul Hussain Nazamani, visited various departments of the UVAS, including
pet centre, diagnostic laboratory, quality operation laboratory, library,
postmortem house and outdoor clinic. Dr Nawaz said, "You have scope in meat
technology, dairy processing, leather technology, biological drugs and vaccine
production to serve the nation in a befitting manner." The VC said, "UVAS is
the fourth university that has won maximum projects from international agencies
after the Quaid-e-Azam University, University of Science and Technology and
Agriculture University, Faisalabad." He said the university had won maximum
research grants of Rs 572 million from the Agriculture Department of United
States, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Australian Centre
for Industrial Agriculture Research, International Atomic Energy Agency and
Norwegian Research Council. There is no substitute to get top position in any
profession without hard work, he said, adding that utter devotion and
seriousness towards profession makes a man perfect in all fields of life. Dr
Nawaz claimed that today in many parts of the world UVAS students were serving
amongst the top world veterinarians. He said that Pakistan was facing critical
phase of its history. "You are the shining future of Pakistan and do for the
betterment of the nation". Speaking about the importance of veterinary education
as well as its scope worldwide, he said the students, getting veterinary
education, should prove themselves strong veterinarians and be helpful in
boosting the livestock sector of the country. Earlier, the VC informed the
visiting students that UVAS was one of the oldest institutions in Asia dedicated
to quality research and education. He said Punjab Veterinary School was
established in 1882, which was upgraded to the level of college in 1905 and then
became a university in 2002. "We don't believe we are a provincial level
university but to a national standing university." Daily times
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Professor emeritus
Lahore: The Syndicate of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) has
appointed former Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Manzoor Ahmad as professor emeritus,
said a press release here on Saturday.
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PU students' artworks lauded
Lahore: The ongoing
group exhibition of the students of Punjab University's College of Art and
Design at Alhamra Arts Council gallery at The Mall is receiving a warm response
from the artists, art lovers, students and general public. The
exhibition, which was opened on July 14 and will continue till July 20 from 9am
to 6pm daily, is showcasing the brilliant works of art, including print making
and paintings, by the students of the Punjab University. The works which
have been displayed in the gallery include prints by Hajra Saleem, Rabiya Ejaz,
Sania Sabhar, Shumaila Khan, Muniba Tariq and Aqsa Sajjad. The paintings
displayed on the walls of the permanent art gallery of Alhamra include the
recent works by Mehwish Pervez, Sadia Iqbal, Iram Naeem, Shazia Munir and
others. The event has been organised by the Lahore Arts Council. PU's
College of Arts and Design Principal Prof Rahat Naveed had inaugurated it.
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US company launches apprentice programme at PU
Lahore: A well-known US-based e-lancing company has started its apprentice programme at the Punjab
University College of Information Technology (PUCIT), to equip the online market
place with more technical manpower. The programme is directed towards IT
students. According to a press release here on Saturday, the PUCIT holds the
distinction of being the very first institute to participate in this apprentice
programme in house. The company will carry out a two-month training programme
for the final year students at the PUCIT. Students will be trained about
business ethics, how to deal with international clients and how to be
competitive in the global marketplace. A part of this programme will
also help students to improve their business communication skills, particularly
in the IT world through the internet. During the first cycle, a total of 20
students have been selected.
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UET budget approved
Lahore: The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) syndicate on Saturday approved
the varsity's annual budget for the year 2011-12. Total income for the
recurring budget for the fiscal year 2011-12 is estimated to be Rs 2090 million
while the expenditure has been estimated to be Rs 2262 million, with a deficit
of Rs 172 million. The varsity spokesman said that, out of the budget, a
sum of Rs 846 million had been allocated for teaching and research; Rs 120
million for KSK Campus; Rs 120 million for Faisalabad Campus; and Rs 59 million
for RCET, Gujranwala. A development budget of Rs 692 million had been passed for
various campuses of the UET, Lahore, he added.
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PEF tests
Lahore: The Punjab Education
Foundation (PEF) has decided to check answer sheets of its quality assurance
tests through Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology to ensure transparency
and fast and accurate data collection. A PEF spokesman said the quality
assurance tests (QATs) were held biannually to examine the academic performance
of 2,445 partner schools in 29 districts of the province. The news
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