Job creation top priority of PPP PM Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani

PESHAWAR, Feb.22 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that job creation is priority of the PPP government, saying professional engineers with adequate education and experience can play an important role in establishing new enterprises, restructuring existing industrial and developing new products and services.Addressing inaugurating ceremony of Jalozai Campus of the NWFP University of Engineering & Technology (UET), here at Governor’s House on Monday, the prime minister said that encouraging entrepreneurship among engineers has the potential of big job creation and employment.

English-medium govt schools from April 1, 2011

LAHORE: The Punjab government has given a go-ahead to make all public sector schools English-medium in accordance with the federal government’s education policy, provincial Education Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said on Monday.

Addressing a function to mark World Thinking Day for girl guides, Mujtaba said subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Social Studies would also be taught in English.

He said the Punjab School Education Department had ordered the implementation of this decision, which would be carried out in phases. He said only a few primary, middle and high schools had been selected to teach the aforementioned subjects in English in the first phase, adding the number of schools would be increased in the next academic year. However, he said, all schools would be made English medium from April 1, 2011.

Source: Daily Times

PU VC inspects uplift projects

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

LAHORE :  THE Punjab University (PU) vice chancellor, Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, inspected a number of ongoing developmental projects to assess their current status in order to chalk out a financial strategy to make them operational as early as possible.

According to a press statement, the PU VC was accompanied by IT College Principal Dr Mansoor Sarwar, P&D Director Tariq Majeed Qureshi, Additional Treasurer Rao Muhammad Sharif, Chief Engineer Ch Muhammad Yasin and Head of Statistics Department Prof Dr Shahid Kamal. Dr Mujahid Kamran inspected the under-construction multi-purpose gymnasium, cricket stadium, textile processing centre, geographical information system and IT centre and operation research centre of the varsity.

He directed that in order to make the gymnasium operational, the work on provision of external services like roads, water supply and sewerage should be completed within the next two months, in addition to increasing the number of existing four bathrooms to seven there. The VC said a feasibility report to let the gymnasium on commercial basis might also be prepared for generating revenue for the varsity. During his visit to the under-construction centre for textile processing, he stressed for accelerating efforts to make the centre operational by utilising minimum possible additional funds. He also directed that a meeting might be convened sometime during the current week to review the funding requirements of all the ongoing projects.

Source : The News

Education Expo attracts hundreds of students

LAHORE : A TWO-day Education Expo 10, organised by the HR Consultants (Pvt) Ltd with media partnership of Jang Group, kicked off at the Pearl Continental Hotel here on Sunday.

A large number of people belonging to different walks of life, particularly students, thronged the stalls of the expo where representatives from dozens of top universities of the UK and Australia gave them free admission-related information.

The prospective students took keen interest in the event and expressed satisfaction with presence of professionals in the field of foreign education. They had discussions with the experts regarding their prospects of studying abroad and were briefed about admissions to top universities of the UK and Australia while matters related with visa were also discussed.

The foreign universities have been offering a vast range of courses in subjects, including business, engineering, computer engineering, public health, health services, dentistry and medicine. A number of universities also received on the spot admission applications from students.

Talking to The News, a number of visitors appreciated the organisers of the expo, saying the event was of great help for those planning to study abroad.

“It’s certainly a good opportunity for students, seeking admissions in UK or Australian universities,” commented a visiting student, Ahmed, saying: “The event will help students explore different prospects of securing admissions to foreign institutions of higher learning.”

Another visitor, Shahzad, said the expo provided the students with an opportunity of comprehensive and detailed discussions with highly skilled and professional people. “Such events should be organised on a regular basis,” he said.

Director HR Consultants (Pvt) Ltd Hamid Rauf said representatives from top universities of the UK and Australia were available to give professional advices to the students in the expo. He said free of charge guidance and information was being provided to students, adding that visa assistance was also being offered to them. He said it was a matter of pride for the HR Consultants that almost all the students whose cases were processed through his organisation for September and January intake had got visas.

Mr Rauf said education in the UK was cost-effective as compared to many other English speaking countries, adding that besides the merit, scholarships were also offered to students.

Regional Manager, Queen Mary, University of London, Nabeel Vehra said students were taking great interest in the Education Expo 10, saying that students seeking admissions to foreign universities should approach professionals only. He said the general impression that there were problems in getting UK student visas was wrong.

“The system has improved and is more efficient now,” he said, adding that the last year certainly left a wrong impression when students had to face delay in getting visas.

Country Manager of Navitas, Ali Rehman, said good turnout of students was observed in the expo where professionals of the field were available to guide and assist them about future possibilities of studying abroad.

The major participants of Education Expo 10 include the Birmingham City University, University of Bradford, Queen Mary University of London, Middlesex University, Brunel University, University of Leicester, London South Bank University, University of Hertfordshire, Bradford College, South Thames College, London, London School of Business & Finance, CRIC (Cambridge Ruskin International College an associate college of Anglia Ruskin University), HIBT (Hertfordshire International College of Business & Technology an associate college of the University of Hertfordshire), ICP (International College Portsmouth, an associate college of the University of Portsmouth), ICWS (International College Wales Swansea, an associate college of the Swansea University), LIBT (London International College of Business & Technology in association with the Brunel University) and PDIC (Plymouth Devon International College as associate college of University of Plymouth).

Monday (today) will be last day of the expo.

Source: The News  Monday, February 22, 2010

Pilot Project Schools face lack of staff

KARACHI – Pilot Project Schools have been affected badly due to lack of proper staff required for quality education, The Nation learnt on Sunday.
Shortage of 145 Teachers including some other necessary staffers has been reported in the Pilot Project Schools located in various towns of the city. Establishing of Pilot Project Schools in collaboration with Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is a successful experience in the education sector at government level.
The project was started more than three years ago and just in two periods these schools were houseful. Some of the schools administration was compelled to close the new admissions as in Liaquatabad town’s School behind Supper Market. In spite of best performance of these schools, the authorities concerned in city government and education department did neither transfer nor post the required teachers in these schools, causing tremendous problems for students, sources said.
Several reminders have been sent to the authorities concerned but they have not taken proper measures for the solution of the problems.
It may be noted that under the Pilot Project scheme, CDGK had developed schools in each town for girls and boys in collaboration with FPCCI.
Sources mentioned that after annual examination, new academic year would be started and students of deprived community would throng, leading to mismanagement due to lack of proper staff, sources said.
Sources mentioned that the main purpose of these schools was to upgrade the academic systems as compared to private schooling system so that the opportunities of quality education to be provided to the children of poor.
Sources said that Committee for Monitoring and Improving of Schools (CMIS) of CDGK schools felt that the shortage of teachers and staffers would affect the performance of this schooling system. That is why, they requested to the authorities concerned in CDGK to appoint teachers and other staffers but so far their all efforts went gone in vain in this regard.
It may be noted that Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is funding the entire scheme of “Pilot Project Schools” and bearing all the expenditures of construction of development of schools, providing equipments of science lab, computers and several other civic and educational facilities including the appointment of doctors.

Edu Secy directed to stop private schools from charging June-July fees

KARACHI (PPI) – Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister Ms Sharmila Farooqui has directed Provincial Education Secretary to take effective steps for stopping private schools from charging the fees of coming June-July months of summer vacation besides ensuring registration of private schools.
“The private schools have issued directives to the parents of students to submit June-July fees in March and April in advance which is unjustified act. There is no justification to charge fee of two-month summer vacation as no government school charges it,’’ she informed this while talking to a parents delegation here on Sunday.
Sharmila said that it is irony that hundreds of unregistered schools are being operated in Karachi and interior Sindh, affecting the standard of education system. The majority of private schools are being operated in small buildings which are unfit for education atmosphere and is violation of education rules and regulations.
“This kind of atmosphere degrades mentality of students as compared to the students of big school buildings which also have playgrounds. “It has been checked that most of private schools comprise two to four small rooms and have no playground and open compound.”
She said that there is also need to make private schools mandatory for arranging open space buildings with more than four rooms. She also directed all EDOs Education to play their due role for raising literacy rate in backward areas of Sindh because about 72 percent children are out of schools in 10 districts of Sindh.
Sharmila asked the relevant officials to take action against unregistered private schools and ensure their registration. No one would be allowed to ruin the education system, she warned. The advisor directed EDOs to launch campaigns across Sindh to check the standard of education in the private schools and initiate their accountability so as to ensure quality education.

Source: The Nation February 22, 2010

Revitalisation of universities urged

Karachi : Pakistan cannot effectively communicate with any country, including India, unless Pakistani universities are brought at par with international standards, said Hameed Haroon while speaking on Saturday at the Sarwar Nasim Memorial Lecture on “Communicating Pakistan to India”.

The lecture was organised by the Karachi University Teachers Guild (KUTG) at the University of Karachi (KU).

“Universities in Pakistan are groaning under the yoke of insufficient funds, absence of towering figures who can guide universities to the height of excellence, appropriate infrastructure and neglect from society. It is surprising that journalists, parliamentarians, NGO personnel and businessmen can go to India without any obstacles, but academics have to channel their application through the governor. We are looking at bigotry, it is unfortunate,” he remarked.

Haroon further drew the attention of the audience towards the fact that an elite system of education has been developed in Pakistan, where the affluent send their children abroad for education. Those who are not as fortunate have to go to public sector universities, which are substandard. The former group of people, he said, are not interested in doing anything that does not help them, while the latter have no proficiency in such things. This does not leave any avenue to talk with our eastern neighbour, he said.

“There could be no progress in the country, and other countries will continue to view us as ignorant and unreliable if we, the government, and society continue to ignore universities,” he asserted.

Haroon said that strategic faults remain even while communicating within Pakistan, claiming that a factional society, which in turn is divided on different issues, was responsible for such a phenomenon. He said that communicating with India becomes more difficult due to the lack of cohesion in the government. “Who will do that? The president, prime minister or the masses,” he asked.

Haroon said that Pakistan has to adopt a dignified, rational approach for self-identity. India with superior education and better political understanding has ignored or does not understand Pakistan. “We have to be accepted by others as a dignified state. India does not accept Pakistan as its equal. It patronises Pakistan,” he maintained.

“A country must show vibrancy, dynamism and qualities to communicate with their own people and other countries. It is a harsh fact that Pakistani rulers have been unable to take note of the masses that are suffering with deprivation, illiteracy and poverty. We have to tolerate people from other religions too. A safe and satisfied society is the base for a strong country. We have to achieve that goal,” he said.

The KU vice-chancellor hoped his university will come out of the deep slumber and apathy that has been the rule for a long time. Dr Aqeel Ahmed, Dr Shakeel Farooqui and others also spoke on the occasion.

Source: The News Sunday, February 21, 2010

Education vital to economic uplift

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday said that being a developing country Pakistan should go a long way to meet international standards of education and to groom young people to understand the diversity of the global environment.

He stated this while addressing the convocation of the Air University at the Jinnah Convention Centre here on Friday.

The prime minister said that education plays a pivotal role in the development of any economy. “Pakistan needs qualified engineers and effective managers, who can sincerely put in their best efforts to improve the technological and industrial output,” he said.

Gilani said that providing education to every citizen was a mammoth task, and the government is making all out efforts to increase the literacy rate. However, those who are literate must understand their role as responsible citizens who can participate effectively in the formal and informal events of society to increase the social capital of the country.

“The role that some of our institutes of higher learning like Air University are playing to meet these standards is commendable both in terms of maintaining their religious and cultural identity, as well as respecting global values and traditions,” He said: “We must become a self-reliant nation. For this a viable route is to begin by collaborating with advanced countries to develop the technological expertise in our own country. This way we wouldn’t just be cutting down on our expenses, but in the long run will also be able to export this technology to other developing countries.” He added that it is for this reason that the government is collaborating with Chinese friends in various fields, including defence, of which production of JF-17 Thunder Aircraft is an example.

He said that universities impart and create knowledge and today knowledge supplants land, labour and capital. “Knowledge about the latest technologies, about the latest research, and contribution to these sectors, can help Pakistan to move forward,” he said, adding that our reliance on the developed countries for advanced knowledge and technology adversely affects our economy, since major portion of that goes into its import.

He said that the Air University is contributing to the national growth with its 538 graduates in the disciplines of engineering and management sciences. “It is commendable that more than 1,000 students graduated today in contrast with its first convocation in September 2007 in which a total of 468 students were conferred degrees,” he said.

The names of the gold medalists in various disciplines included Salman Jefferi, Mansoor Ahsan, Sana Lodhi, Zeeshan Hameed, Hassan Wajahat Hussain, Hameed Waseem, Mohammad Awaise, Tahir Hussain, Syed Mohammad Husnain Kazmi, Mohammad Shoaib, Naseem Mohammad, Awaise Chaudhry, Mishal Aftab, Payar Ali and Khadija Kanwal.

The silver medalists in various disciplines included Sahar Usman, Kanwal Shahzadi, Hamad Maqsood, Uzma Mushtaq, Sundus Amin, Adil Zaman Babar, Mohammad Ameer Hamza Khan, Tahseen Akhtar, Zahra Nadeem, Syed Husnain Raza and Saiqa Kanwal.

Air University Vice Chancellor (VC) Ijaz Ahmed Malik, on the occasion, presented the university report. He said that it has a current enrolment of 10,977 students, including 10,645 under-graduates. He said that as many as 333 students were studying in the university’s postgraduate programmes, 1,016 were studying in its MS programmes, 108 in MBA, while six were doing PhD.

Highlighting the problems faced by the university, he said that non-availability of proper space for the setting up of laboratories and hostel facilities was a hindrance in imparting quality education to the fullest. The government had announced 78 acres of land in Sector H-11/2 for the establishment of a new campus, but the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is demanding Rs1.5 million for its acquisition. Being a private-public sector academic institution, the Air University cannot pay this huge amount, he added.

GCU to attend intel libraries conference

LAHORE: Government College University (GCU) would represent Pakistan at the ‘3rd International Conference on Digital Libraries (ICDL)’, to be held from February
23 to February 26 in New Delhi, India.

According to a press release issued by GCU on Friday, around 105 speakers from 54 countries would present their research papers at the conference. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Shaping the Information Paradigm.’ GCU Chief Librarian Abdul Waheed would present his research paper on ‘Collection Management of E-books: A Developing Country Perspective’.

Source: Daily Times Saturday, February 20, 2010

Australian scholarships from March 2010

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: Australian High Commissioner Timothy George launched on Thursday a new phase of the AusAID Pakistan scholarships programme.

The programme has been redesigned in consultation with the Pakistani government to increasingly align its objectives with Pakistan’s development priorities.

Future awards will focus on maternal, neonatal and child health; basis education; rural development and food security; and governance.

A revised selection process includes specific measures to ensure gender equality and that scholarships are accessible to people with disabilities. Candidates from Balochistan, the North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas will be par- ticularly encouraged to apply.

Target candidates include policy-makers, practitioners and advocates in government and civil society organisations. At the completion of their studies, scholars will return to Pakistan to contribute to the development of the country.

Many previous scholarship holders have become leaders in government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations.

The new phase of the AusAID Pakistan scholarships programme will also see the establishment of an alumni network.

Last month, 51 Pakistan recipients of AusAID scholarships travelled to Australia to commence their studies at universities throughout the country.

In March, the next round of scholarships will be advertised throughout Pakistan, inviting applications for 45 master’s level awards to study in Australian universities.

In September 2009, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Michael Rudd announced a further expansion of AusAID’s scholarships programme in Pakistan, with 100 additional scholarships, specifically those focusing on agricultural studies, over next four years.

bisp: A delegation of AusAID visited the secretariat of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and explored possible avenues of cooperation and support the programme.

AusAID is already in contact with BISP development partners like USAID and the World Bank.

BISP Chairperson Farzana Raja informed the delegation that the programme was making headway in introducing new initiatives for alleviation of poverty and making the poorest of the poor section of the society financially independent.

Source : Dawn, Friday, 19 Feb, 2010