Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak while stressing need for bringing improvement in the standard of education in universities said that the nation is justified in expectations of its academicians that they besides education orientation of students in the present era of science and information technology will also introduce new trends in research and inventions.
He, however, said answer to the question of progress in science and research today is negative. He said that neither the people of West are extraordinary nor our youth are lacking talent. He deplored that the deficiency and lacunas are from the top level and we must address it accordingly.
Talking to a joint delegation of the vice chancellors and professors of Islamic College and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed universities here, he wondered that if heads of universities, faculties and teaching staff are lacking spirit then how it would be generated in students.
However, he attributed the situation to the corruption and bungling of past, whose stories like other sectors were also infused into universities and educational institutions.
The delegation was headed by the oldest student and vice president of Alumni Association Mohammad Zaman that besides highlighting the achievements of both universities and its affiliated educational institutions also appreciated the efforts of the chief minister for eradication of corruption and supremacy of merit.
They also assured their full cooperation in this regard and invited the chief minister for visit to both universities. The chief minister while accepting the invitation said that he will certainly visit the institutions. However, he said his first interest there will be to be acquainted with education and research works. The delegation comprised of Vice Chancellor Islamia College University (ICU) Professor Dr. Qibla Ayaz, Vice Chancellor Benazir Shaheed Women University (BSWU) Professor Dr. Razia Sultana, Chairman Department of Physics Professor Arbab Safeer Ahmad, President Islamia College Professors’ Association Professor Dr. Shabir Ahmad and General Secretary Senior Alumni Association Islamia College Col (r) Jameel Ahmad while Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Mian Jamshiduddin Kakakhel, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning & Development Mian Khaleeq-ur-Rehman and authorities of the Department of Higher Education were also present on the occasion.
Pervez Khattak said that the masses giving overwhelming majority to PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the open expression of hatred to corruption, excesses and injustices adding their tolerance to corruption is zero and this fact should also be understood by all educational institutions including universities’ heads and administrations.
He said that utmost priority of the PTI led coalition government in the province is the abolition of class-based dual education system, enforcement of unified English medium curriculum and such level of improvement in the education system to not only fill gap between poor and rich in education sector but to recognize our youth at international level.
He also reiterated the resolve of the provincial government that instead of constructing new schools, colleges and universities in the name of education, his govt was foxussing full attention to make existing educational institutions of knowledge, research and creative nature. He said that besides expertise in science and technology the productive and research oriented potentials of our youth should increase manifold and should become employers and job givers rather than job seekers in future, he added.
The chief minister said the objective of their educational plan along with increase in the number of universities and colleges is their turning into the cradles of education and research. He besides visits to both universities also accepted invitation to attend the inaugural ceremony of a comprehensive book on the history of Islamia College and said that the love and affection of the people with the institute has become part of our history and culture, which has laid foundation of higher education in the province.
The college established one century back, he said, today had become University and had also paved way for the opening of several other schools, colleges and universities, but, in fact it is the mother of all universities and educational institutions of the region on which he said we all are rightly proud.
He while agreeing with the proposal of administrative separation of Islamia College from the university assured proper step in this regard. He also agreed with the proposals of Professor Dr. Qibla Ayaz regarding the the proposed technical university at Azakhel Nowshera and directed his inclusion on the consultative board.
Source: The Frontier Post.
