Education Problems (bye fazalhaq)
Opposition to the curriculum reform and textbook controversy between the federal and Punjab government were the main educational issues in 2004. The Punjab governor to neglect critical aspects of the Inter University Faculty Board of curriculum reform was another big problem.
But on a positive note, the Punjab Education Sector reform Program (PSERP) and the Provincial Implementation and Monitoring Unit worked to improve education. In other developments, the Forman Christian College was denationalised and given university status, while the University of Management Technology, the University of South Asia, University of the gift in Gujranwala and Superior College received university status.
The following are the major issues that developed in 2004:
Curriculum problem: The problem began when the Federal Ministry of Education approved the curriculum wing alleged ‘offensive material’ in textbooks for the Sindh and Punjab boards, from class I to XII in 2000-01. Zubaida Jalal, the minister of education during this period. The curriculum for the sciences was revised in 2000 and for the arts topic in 2002. This was the first revision since 1986.
Because no formal training was given to the curriculum review committee or writers, there were illustrative and typographic errors. The exclusion of Koran verses from “Biology for class XI ‘the Sindh Textbook Board textbook was approved by the Ministry of Education through a notice in June 24.2003. The publication was given approval by the National Review Committee, which is also a no objection certificate (NOC) said the syllabus for various classes of Punjab Textbook Board books.
The federal government approved the inclusion of the chapters’ Model Millionaire ‘and’ How to live with less income. The controversial story in the class X (Bahare Urdu) book on Hazrat Umar listen to music and poetry is no objection at that time.
Yet the government has failed in addressing the propaganda around the curriculum revision controversy. The government has avoided the problem instead of addressing it, fueling further unrest among the academic quarters.
Academics are concerned that the revision of the curriculum would be reversed. They were concerned that unless the controversy surrounding the changes was not addressed, a syllabus with an enlightened vision of Islam would not be possible. Later, a national committee formed to look into the matter.
Chancellor’s curriculum reforms: Punjab Governor Lt General (r) Khalid Maqbool revised 50 courses taught at universities and the government approved a new master, bachelor and diploma courses. He stressed the opening of sub campuses of major universities, which were planned and built in various locations.
In total, 50 subjects were reviewed and universities were told to get them removed from the boards of studies, so they could be taught from the beginning of the next academic year. University departments were focused on four year courses start.
There were also attempts to universities to begin semester system, along with making courses, functional courses, communication skills, internships and entrepreneurial skills required.
Maqbool approved a number of diplomas, bachelors and masters in the fields of pharmacy, psychology, sociology, political science, philosophy, science, history, Pakistan studies, economics, zoology, botany, mycology and plant pathology, law, nursing education, dentistry, medicine, social work, physical education and sport sciences, administrative sciences and human capital development, information technology, mass communication, various technical disciplines and sciences. The University of Technology set up a sub campus in Faisalabad.
Politicization of the campuses: Political interference in educational campuses and remained a major thorn in the government. Although Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the Punjab Prime Minister, abolished the student wing (Muslim Students Federation) of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, other political parties chapters, particularly the Islami Jamiat Talaba remained active in campuses. It caused major confrontations at Allama Iqbal Medical College in July and in the Punjab University throughout the year. The PU administration would be behind him.
Madrassa’s reforms: the Ministry of Education failed to make the madrassas (seminaries) successful reforms in 2004. They asked the government to reopen madrassa registration for more people to benefit from the Madrassa reforms Package. RS-6 billion earmarked for reforms’ first three years and gave the government an additional Rs 225 million to all provinces but the provinces failed to use the resources.
Provincial convention: Maqbool also arranged a provincial convention in which 29 universities participated. The convention, following the national convention held in early 2004. But he remained silent about the problems of politicization of the campuses and no measures against political elements. He avoided serious problems, creating a bad reputation for the government because he thought it useful to highlight such problems. An important example is the complete failure of the College of Education and the University of Health Sciences. The negligence and inefficiency in these universities, led to student protests.
PSERP and Pimu: The Punjab government claimed that it was dedicated to implementation and monitoring of the Punjab Education Sector reform Program (PSERP) 2003-06. The program is aimed at improving the infrastructure and facilities to be provided to 63,674 schools in Punjab. It was also announced that the program of the next phase secondary schools would be upgraded, another 15,000 teachers would be recruited as primary school pupils would be given relatively quiet, municipal corporation schools would free textbooks and teachers will be given would be sent for training in Britain, Australia and the United States. The government also launched an automated registration of facilities that will soon be available on the Internet.
The PSERP, which is affiliated to the National of the federal Education Sector Reform Programme, is based on three foundations: more financial resources to education at provincial and district level, to the decentralization process and to help make the quality of and access to education to improve to be allocated.
The program includes scholarships to female students, free school, the restructuring of Punjab Education Foundation, teacher recruitment and training, monitoring and evaluation, reactivation of school councils and an awareness campaign. A program Monitoring and Implantation Unit (PMIU) was established to the data of missing facilities to analyze. The analysis will be shared with districts and used to plan course corrections. The technique is applied in a social sector program for the first time in Pakistan.
Fake degrees / substandard campuses: Fake diplomas and sub-standard campuses were another matter that the image of the federal and provincial governments affected. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has a warning to colleges and universities, saying: “All substandard universities will be closed and colleges upgraded to university level will be reversed if they do not meet the criteria within two and a half years.”
Meanwhile, the fake diploma company continued to grow. About 70 students from the 2000 and 2002 final sessions of the PU’s Economics Department from their masters received from the PU, despite being absent or not the exams. Mian Naeem Javed, for the district Nazim Sialkot, caught a group of people involved in making fake degrees. The people who started the campaign against fake degrees were also victims, as the HEC, might not like this issue being highlighted, took offense at them.
Other issues: The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) to replace chief seemed to calm the people. There was, however, Yousaf Kamal, the new chairman, is also removed after a while and close relatives Elahi was appointed the new chairman. Kamal was removed with respect to the TEVAT thereof. Meanwhile, the Government announced that it would help the Aga Khan Foundation to establish an examination board in the country.
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