Tag: education minister

  • ‘Haramda’, PML-N’s education minister makes sickening remarks about Khan his father, wife

    Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain took to the floor of the house in the National Assembly (NA) yesterday and passed disparaging remarks in a speech directed at former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Talking about how police had forcefully entered the hotel room in which Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz was staying during Imran Khan’s tenure to arrest her husband, Captain (retd) Safdar, Tanveer said, “Wasn’t our daughter Maryam alone in the hotel when the doors of her room were broken? Why are there different standards for your [Imran Khan] wife [Bushra Bibi], did she not elope with you? This is far bigger family than you.”

    Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif can be seen in a video banging the desk and laughing on Tanveer’s comment.

    “You [Imran Khan] are the son of a corrupt man. I remember there was a wedding I [Rana Tanveer] attended and his [Imran Khan] father was there too. Imran Khan was sitting there too. A person asked his father if he was his son? Khan’s father replied that kehnay ko tu mera baita par hai haramda [Yes he is my son but he is illegitimate]. These were his [Khan’s father’s] words.”

    Twitter rebuked Tanveer and schooled the education minister, saying that he should give up his position in the government with due respect for passing such remarks.

  • Broken promise? Madrassas to implement SNC in six years

    Director National Curriculum Council (NCC) Dr Mariam Chughtai has said that the government is giving five to six years to madrassas (religious seminaries) to adopt the changes that need to be made to switch to the Single National Curriculum (SNC).

    Earlier, Mariam Chughtai has said that Single National Curriculum will help Madrassa students to to qualify for jobs.

    Responding to a question about not taking all stakeholders on board, Mariam added, “Let me also point out that every single child was being affected in 2017 as well. The Quran Naazrah Act was passed unanimously in the parliament by every single political party. Not one article in Dawn, not one webinar, not one question, not one tweet about it… but now because this curriculum impacts the children of the rich, suddenly there is a hue and cry about where are all the stakeholders.”

    She went on to add, “There was a call in the newspaper to participate [in SNC], not one university expect Agha Khan University applied for it.”

    “As far as the Aitchison question is concerned, it’s too quick to assume that Aitchison is rejecting it [SNC]. I read the principal’s statement and they said explicitly they are following SNC in spirit.”

    “Rest is all implementation-related, we are giving schools time, we are giving madrassas five to six years to accommodate the changes that need to be made,” Dr Chughtai added.

    Prime Minister, Imran Khan in December 2020 said that, “A uniform curriculum is important because it is the only way to streamline the country’s education system which is currently divided on the basis of Urdu-medium schools, English-medium schools, and Madrassahs,” he said.

    Single National Curriculum (SNC) is a ‘uniform’ system of education, which means the same curriculum for everyone. 

  • ‘Board exams to be held after July 10,’ says Shafqat Mahmood

    ‘Board exams to be held after July 10,’ says Shafqat Mahmood

    Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said on Wednesday that board exams for students of classes nine and 10 would be held only for elective subjects and mathematics while exams for students of classes 11 and 12 would be held for elective subjects only.

    Mahmood’s press conference came after he chaired a meeting of provincial education ministers and officials from education departments.

    Mahmood said that the issue of resolving the complaint of non-completion of courses by the students was discussed in today’s meeting. “Several months ago, we reduced the curriculum by 40 per cent to make it easier for teachers and students to prepare,” said the minister.

    “It has been decided in the meeting of inter-provincial education ministers that the ninth, 10th, 11th, and 12th examinations will start after July 10,” stated Mahmood. He further added that in this regard, the 10th and 12h examinations will be held first.

    “This decision is taken as students have different streams and directions so they will sit in exams related to their particular subject of interest,” he said.

    “We have also asked boards to keep some gap between the exams,” he said, as he explained the government had taken several steps to ease the process on the students as the educational institutions could not complete the course work.

    Mahmood said that the 10th and 12th classes are currently underway. “We have decided to open schools and colleges for the ninth and 11th classes so that they can prepare,” said the minister. “If we do not conduct the exams, then students will not even employ minimum efforts to study,” said the federal minister.

    “No student will be awarded grades without attempting examinations this year,” the education minister added.

    Mahmood further stated that the teachers conducting the board examinations need to be fully vaccinated.

    “There will be no review of the decision to take the exams. Children must prepare for their examination. We have been very lenient with the legitimate demands of the students,” concluded Mahmood.

  • No truth in rumours, exams to be held as per schedule: Shafqat Mahmood

    Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood has rubbished all rumours about the cancellation of exams.

    The minister tweeted that the students of grade 9 and 11 will sit for their exams as per the scheduled timetable given by their respective boards.

    Mahmood added that there was no truth to the rumours circulating regarding the cancellation of the exams.

    Last month, Mahmood and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had announced that as per the suggestion of the National Command and Operation Centre, all board exams had been postponed till June 15.

    “Exams of 9, 10, 11 and 12, which were supposed to begin from the end of May, have been delayed further,” the minister said. “No board exams will be held till mid-June (June 15).”

    Mahmood added that another meeting of the NCOC will decide in the third week of May whether these exams will be postponed further or not.

  • Aagha Ali urges government to postpone exams

    Aagha Ali urges government to postpone exams

    Aagha Ali has extended his support to students demanding exams be delayed and urged authorities to postpone them in wake of rising COVID-19 cases.

    “I’ve been getting 100s of messages from students [from] all over the country and trust me, all they say makes sense. Almost all institutes, schools and colleges have been closed and we all know how useful online classes were,” said Ali.

    The actor further said: “Apart from this, the new wave of corona is here and getting worse every day…and is taking many lives.”

    “Is this risk really worth it?,” he questioned. “Please postpone the exams or promote the students on their previous records.”

    Ali added: “The whole country has been going through a lot of pressure and this is only giving students extreme mental stress.”

    Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on April 18 had confirmed that A, AS, O’ Level and IGCSE exams will be held as per the date sheet announced by CAIES and there will be no cancellation or delay in the exams. Mahmood had added that those students wishing to take the exams in October-November can do it for the same fee that they’ve already paid.

    Following his announcement, several celebrities including Asim Azhar requested the government to postpone the exams considering the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.

    Meanwhile, Twitter raged with students advocating for the cancellation of board exams this year, saying their learning schedules had been deeply disturbed this year. Several students also protested on the streets so that the government takes proper notice of their demands.

    #ExamCancelHoga, #ImranKhanCancelExam and #ShafqatMahmood were also among the top trends on the micro-blogging site.

    Mansha Pasha also expressed support for the students saying that she was proud of her husband Jibran Nasir for advocating for them.

    YouTuber Shahveer Jafry has also requested the government to postpone exams in his tweets:

    LHC, IHC and PHC have dismissed the petitions of the Cambridge students. Sindh High Court now will announce the verdict on Friday at 4 pm.

  • Asim Azhar backs students, urges Shafqat Mahmood to cancel exams again

    Asim Azhar backs students, urges Shafqat Mahmood to cancel exams again

    After Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood announced that there will be no delay or cancellation of exams, Asim Azhar once again voiced his support for students, urging the minister to reconsider his decision in view of the ongoing third wave of COVID-19 across Pakistan.

    “A, AS, O Level and IGCSE exams will be held as per the date sheet announced by CAIES,” said Mahmood, asserting they will be no cancellation or delay in the exams.

    Mahmood added that Cambridge has assured that all SOPs will be strictly followed.

    Responding to the announcement, the singer said: “Who will be responsible if kids take COVID back to their homes just so they could appear in exams?”

    In another tweet, Azhar urged Mahmood to rethink his decision.

    “Abhi bhi waqt hai, bacho pe tars khaalain,” said Asim.

    Earlier, Twitter had raged with students advocating for the cancellation of board exams this year following the deadly third COVID-19 wave across the country.

    Students demanded to cancel board exams 2021 amidst their disturbed learning schedules. Several students were also demonstrating on the streets so that the government take proper notice of their demands.

    #ExamCancelHoga, #cancelboardexams2021 and #ShafqatMahmood were among the top trends on the micro-blogging site as social media users and students expressed their concern over the sharp rise in cases of COVID-19 and its effect on their studies.

    Asim and Hadiqa Kiani had also voiced their support for the students over exams cancellation.

  • Asim Azhar, Hadiqa Kiani, Shaan urge Shafqat Mahmood to give relief to students

    Asim Azhar, Hadiqa Kiani, Shaan urge Shafqat Mahmood to give relief to students

    Asim Azhar, Hadiqa Kiani and Shaan have requested Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood to postpone the upcoming papers and give students and their parents some relief.

    “Please think of our children,” said Kiani. “We must find an alternative plan that doesn’t put them in danger.”

    She added that she “an advocate for education” and prays that he son goes on and achieves a PhD.

    “But this is just not the way,” said the singer.

    Similarly, Azhar said: “Sir, it would be unfair to hold exams in such circumstances! Please find a solution.”

    The singer further said: “Students have really been disturbed due to the ongoing pandemic causing the institutes to close and open again and again.”

    “I personally know some students that haven’t been able to complete their syllabuses as well,” he asserted.

    Addressing students, Asim said that he understands their pain because if he wasn’t a full-time musician, he would also be going through the same stress.

    “I understand your stress and pain guys. Agar abhi music nahi kar raha hota tou mai bhi ro raha hota exams ko leke iss waqt.. so I understand,” said Asim, adding: “I am sure Shafqat Mahmood will stand with the youth and find the best solution possible.”

    Shaan, on the other hand, brought up another issue, saying: “Honourable minister must give relief to parents who are suffering from not just the pandemic but the private school mafias as well.”

    “Change was your slogan and patience is all we have till now,” he added.

    The veteran actor further said: “Elm bohat bari dolat Hai… agar yaqeen na aye to private school kai malikaan sai pooch lain.”

    Demanding teacher-assessed grades, dozens of students of the Cambridge International Education (CIE) system staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on April 2 against the O’ and A’ Level examinations scheduled to be held in April and May. Multiple protests also took place across the country against the exams, including one in Lahore.

    After studying online for the whole year, the protesting students said that they would not appear for tests in classrooms. The students and their parents demanded the federal government to cancel the CIE examinations in light of the pandemic and asked for marking to be done on the basis of teacher-assessed grades.

    However, Mahmood on Tuesday announced that examinations across the country will be held from the third week of May, adding that Cambridge exams will be held as per schedule.

    “Decisions regarding exams are final,” said Mahmood. “Students should start preparing and working hard.”

    Meanwhile, A-level exams are scheduled at the end of April, while the O-level exams are slated to begin on May 10.

  • Punjab education minister urges students to ‘ignore’ misinformation and ‘be patient’

    Punjab education minister urges students to ‘ignore’ misinformation and ‘be patient’

    Punjab Minister for Education Dr Murad Raas has urged students in the province not to believe any any information coming from unofficial sources.

    “Ignore all tweets wherever they are coming from,” wrote the minister in a tweet. “Anything to do with Punjab will be tweeted by me. Please be patient, dates will be announced in a day or two.”

    “These amount of calls and messages is insanity,” he added.

    Earlier, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood announced that schools located in COVID-19 hotspot areas will remain closed till April 11.

    Mahmood also informed that after several rounds of talks, Cambridge has agreed to reschedule this year’s O’ Level exams to after May 15.

    “A’ and AS’ Level exams will take place as per the original timetable following all the SOP,” stated the minister.

    Prior to the announcement, Mahmood had told students that all “decisions are made keeping their best interest in view not what is popular”.

    “Educational institutions are closed on the advice of health authorities,” said Mahmood. “Decisions about exams are being made considering what is best for them. Have faith.”

    Pakistan is currently battling with its third wave of COVID-19. According to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), Pakistan has reported 4,368 cases and 63 deaths in the last 24 hours.

    Number of cases recorded in different provinces in the last 24 hours are as follows:

  • PTI’s new education minister in KP hasn’t studied beyond matric: report

    PTI’s new education minister in KP hasn’t studied beyond matric: report

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s new Education Minister Akbar Ayub hasn’t studied beyond matric, Geo News has reported.

    In a major cabinet reshuffle made by the KP chief minister (CM) on Saturday, Ayub was handed reins of the education department. He was earlier serving as the minister for communication and works department.

    According to reports, KP provincial assembly’s official website shows that Ayub’s educational qualification is matric. The same has been listed in an affidavit submitted by the education minister, which also states his occupation as a businessman and a landlord.

    A copy of Akbar Ayub Khan’s documents submitted to the ECP. 

    Speaking to Geo News, the minister said that his education qualification “did not matter”. Ayub said he was experienced in educational and administrative affairs.

    Backing his statement, KP Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said Ayub had vast administrative experience.

    “It does not matter what degree he holds,” said Yousafzai. “He has studied from a reputable institute and is a capable man.”

    In a separate video message, Yousafzai said one should not question Ayub’s capabilities solely due to the fact that he had not studied beyond matriculation level.

    “He left for Canada to pursue the construction business while he was in grade 12,” said the information minister. “He is a skilled man and we should extract benefit from his experience and capabilities.”

    Yousafzai said the education minister could speak to foreign diplomats and dignitaries as “his English is the best”. He said since education had been bifurcated into two parts, Ayub was given charge of the elementary education, not secondary. 

    “He has to run an institute and for that, he has ample experience in the past as a minister,” he said.