BZU opposed proposed merger of its two colleges with other varsities

MULTAN: The administration of the Bahauddin Zakariya University has decided to oppose a proposal for the merger of its engineering and agriculture colleges with the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology (MNSUET) and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA), respectively.

A meeting of the MNSUET steering committee to discuss the merger of both the colleges with the two universities has been called by the Planning and Development Department on March 16 which will be presided over the by P&D Board Chairman Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan.

Quaid-i-Azam University registrar's promotion reverted

ISLAMABAD: The new syndicate of the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) at its second meeting on Monday reverted the promotion of the university’s registrar.

The syndicate met with Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf in the chair. Sources said the syndicate, the supreme decision-making body of the university, rejected the promotion of Registrar Dr Shafiqur Rehman from BPS-20 to BPS-21 approved by the previous syndicate in 2015.

Some officials of the university said the registrar had also been removed from the post and sent on a forced leave. However, four syndicate members Dawn spoke to neither denied nor confirmed the development. However, they confirmed the reversion of the registrar’s promotion.

MBBS classes started at Sukkur medical college 'without approval'

SUKKUR: A controversy over legitimacy of MBBS course at the Ghulam Mohammed Mahar Medical College was triggered on Monday by the director general of health, Islamabad, who told reporters in Sukkur that he did not issue any instructions to the principal or administration allowing admissions for the 2016-17 batch.

His remarks came on the day the college started MBBS classes for the batch after a formal ceremony held on Saturday (March 11) where Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah was the chief guest.

Political will essential inclusive education system

KARACHI: The education of girls cannot be dealt with in isolation; if you focus on them alone, boys will be left out, said development economist Dr Kaiser Bengali on Monday, at a seminar titled ‘Best practices for promoting girls’ education’.

Organised by the Indus Resource Centre (IRC), the seminar highlighted ways of encouraging inclusive education for all across the country, and how the political and ruling elite must take charge.

Stressing that education cannot be delegated to NGOs, Dr Bengali went on to dismiss one-room schools prevalent in rural areas as “useless” and said these must be shut down.

QCB to set up schools, colleges, hospital

QUETTA: The Quetta Cantonment Board (QCB) plans to set up separate schools and colleges for boys and girls and a hospital for civilians living in its housing scheme.

The schools would be set up in the first phase and colleges in the second, QCB Chief Executive Imran Gulzar said in a meeting with members of the Quetta Chamber of Small Traders and Industries (QCSTI).

The chamber’s president, Malik Nadeem Kasi, in his welcome address, spoke about the problems the business community and residents of the scheme faced.

No sign of education reforms in Hassanabdal villages

TAXILA: The initiative of the government to achieve 100pc enrollment and improve the literacy rate seems a political gimmick as most of the schools in rural areas lack basic facilities such as classrooms and teaching staff.

Looking at the state of affairs at the Government Girls’ High School Bhallar Jogi in Hassanabdal, it seems the government has no clear vision to enroll the seven million out-of-school children with many of the existing schools lacking infrastructure to accommodate the newcomers.

Sargodha varsity convocation on 29th

SARGODHA: The 5th convocation of the University of Sargodha will be held on March 29.

An official press release says eligible candidates can get themselves registered till March 17 with their respective departments.

Students of BS, MA/MSc, MS and M.Phil programmes who have completed their degrees till 2013 will get degrees, merit certificates and cash prizes. The university has also decided to award Ph.D degrees to the Ph.D scholars of the year 2014, 15 and 2016.

Candidates who have already got themselves registered for the 2015 convocation are not required to register again but they may contact their departments for registration cards.

Malir University project launched

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Mohammed Zubair on Sunday said efforts were being made by both the public and private sectors to improve education system of the province as no country could progress without modern-day education.

He was speaking after performing the ground-breaking of the Malir University of Science and Technology (MUST) on its premises.

Over 50 candidates short-listed for nine VC posts

PESHAWAR: The academic search committee has short-listed 57 candidates to fill nine posts of vice-chancellors in public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to officials.

They said that appointment process of vice-chancellors entered the final stage as the short-listed candidates were called for interview. The interview will be conducted on Monday and Tuesday (today and tomorrow) by the search committee in Islamabad.

College still a dream for Allai tehsil students

BATTAGRAM: Most of the students in Allai tehsil quit education after passing their 10th grade examinations, as there is no government college in the tehsil.

Talking to this correspondent, local people said that despite announcements and promises made by political leaders in the past a college was yet to be set up at Allai, which had a population of over 300,000.

Pakistani Christian educationist selected from 'Freedom' honour

LONDON/RUGBY: British Pakistani educationist and former Mayor of Rugby Councillor Dr James Shera has been selected for conferment of the honour of “Freedom of the Borough of Rugby”.

Dr James Shera, a prominent member of the British Pakistani Christian community, is recipient of Sitara-e-Pakistan, member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), and recipient of Formanite Award.

Golden Jubilee seminar on 'State of Higher Education in Pakistan'

Universities and Institutions of Higher Education are the fundamental source of learning and knowledge dissemination. Without rational aspect of knowledge being accorded due emphasis, intellectual growth is not possible. In the fabric of our society and with the ruling and powerful elite there is apathy towards quest for knowledge and learning. Higher Education in the country has been treated mainly as a means of acquiring and entry into the job market, rather than as a means for broadening the students vision and inculcating in them the spirit of specific inquiry.

Marriyum urges students to demonstrate tolerance

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mariyum Aurangzeb says the nation has fought the war against terrorism with undaunted courage and determination. She was addressing convocation of Iqra University in Islamabad on Sunday.
She said there is a considerable decrease in terrorism incidents as a result of measures taken by the Government and sacrifices by the country’s valiant armed forces.

Children in school not receiving quality education

ISLAMABAD: All schools should have the same basic standard of education, and special attention should be given to the country’s education sector – particularly with regards to the recruitment and training of teachers, speakers at a session on education reform said on Sunday.

The session, titled ‘Education Reforms in Pakistan: Separating Reality from Rhetoric’ and moderated by Isfundiar Kasuri, was part of the second day of A World of Tomorrow, a conference organised by Beaconhouse.

Education challenge, opportunity: Maleeha

LONDON: Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi told a packed hall of overseas Pakistanis in London that education is a great challenge in Pakistan but it is also an opportunity.

Speaking at the Annual Gala Dinner celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the UK chapter of DIL (Developments in Literacy) a non-profit body that is educating thousands of underprivileged children, she said the right to education was enshrined in the country's constitution but that provision awaited to be fully implemented, said a press release issued Sunday.