Tag: educational institutes

  • ‘You asserted yourself as rightful stakeholders,’ Jibran congratulates students after some exams are cancelled by govt

    ‘You asserted yourself as rightful stakeholders,’ Jibran congratulates students after some exams are cancelled by govt

    After the government announced that only elective exams and math papers would be taken by students, Pakistani Civil Rights Activist and Lawyer, Jibran Nasir, thanked the government for its prudent decision and congratulated students on gaining ‘relaxation from their exams’.

    Prior to the government’s announcement, Jibran strongly defended students against the government’s stance of having physical exams on schedule.

    Federal Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood said that the issue of resolving complaints of non-completion of courses by the students was discussed in a meeting on Wednesday.

    “Several months ago, we reduced the curriculum by 40 per cent to make it easier for teachers and students to prepare,” said the minister.

    But Jibran stated otherwise. Speaking on a morning show on HUM News, ‘Subah Say Agay’, Jibran said, “The primary issue faced by students is that they were previously examined for a nine-month course, when schools used to conduct exams for four months. At present, each student was offered only two months of classes, and students were asked to come to their respective institutions on alternate days.”

    Jibran further said that the government should take a decision that will allow students to get back to their institutions and complete their curriculum. “This debate is not for the private sector students but for the ones studying in public/government institutions, who do not have the facility or access to the internet,” added Jibran.

    Jibran compared the decision-making of the government by comparing the present conditions of the students of Pakistan to India. “With a much bigger student population, India still managed to develop a local alternative to exams like school assessed grades (SAG) and in Pakistan, we can’t even complete syllabus,” tweeted Jibran.

    Jibran took a jibe at the government and tweeted, “Pak Govt: Our students are lazy, they want a free ride, they don’t want to study.”

  • ‘Educational institutions to remain closed till 23rd May’

    The National Command and Operation Centre has announced an extension in the closure of educational institutions given the prevailing situation of COVID-19 in the country. The decision was taken during the meeting of NCOC held earlier on Saturday.

    “In today’s NCOC session, it is decided that in view of ongoing disease trends, education institutes earlier closed till May 17 will continue to remain closed till May 23,” read a tweet from NCOC’s official Twitter account.

    “Review will be carried out on May 18, 2021,” it added.

    Earlier, the NCOC announced a complete ban on tourism, for both locals and outsiders. The ban shall be observed from May 8-16, the week leading up to and including the Eid holidays. In addition to that, all tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls; all hotels and restaurants in/around tourist/ picnic spots to remain closed.

    On May 7, Pakistan witnessed a death toll of 120. The country has recorded 4,109 confirmed COVID in the last 24 hours with a positivity rate of 8.54%.

  • Students accuse Shafqat Mahmood of ‘destroying careers’, demand resignation

    After Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood announced on Tuesday that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15 and that O’ and A’ Level exams will now take place in the October-November cycle, students are now demanding Teacher and School Assessed Grades with the hashtags #ShafqatDestroysOurCareer and #ResignShafqatMahmood trending on social media.

    Students are arguing that their study schedules have been disrupted because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are demanding Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) and School Assessed Grades (SAGs). On the other hand, some are even proposing other ways of promoting the students without exams.

    https://twitter.com/dauddogar/status/1387313554647363585

    https://twitter.com/ahmedhaseeb48/status/1387315787459928065

    https://twitter.com/RajaAliuzZaman2/status/1387304518354935808?s=20

    Pakistan is currently experiencing a deadly third wave of COVID-19 with fears of an India-like situation. According to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), 5292 cases and 201 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

  • 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, 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.

  • ‘No jeans, tights, makeup’: Hazara University issues new dress code for students

    The Hazara University in Mansehra has issued a new dress code for students, faculty members and administrative staff.

    According to the notification issued on January 6, female students have been advised to wear abaya/scarf/dupatta in neutral colours without any decorative material. They have also been asked to wear shalwar qameez with dupatta or chaddar.

    Jeans, tights, t-shirts, shorts with jeans or tights, heavy makeup and jewellery have been banned at the university, while female students have also been advised against carrying heavy hand bags.

    Read more – New policy of Bahira University prohibits male, female students from sitting together

    The notification further recommends a dress code for male students which includes, dress pants with dress shirts, dress shoes with socks, shalwar qameez, and warm caps in the winters.

    Shorts, cut-off/toran/skin-fitted jeans, chappals/sleepers of any kind/jewellery, long hair, ponytails, and un-presentable bread have been strictly prohibited for the male students, according to the notification.

    Furthermore, staff and faculty members have been advised to wear “neat, clean and presentable dress and black gown during lectures”.

    “Cut-off/toran/skin-fitted jeans, chappals/sleepers of any kind and jewellery are strictly not recommended for faculty members and staff,” reads the notification.

    Wearing ID cards at all times has also been made compulsory for both students and faculty members.

    Though the new recommendations by Hazara University are being strongly criticised on social media, Spokesperson for the KP government and adviser to CM on Information Kamran Bangash, while talking to Gulf News, welcomed the step saying: “This will end the dress competition between the students and teachers, helping the poor students and their parents. It will also help them focus on their studies.”

  • ‘Revise your course, do homework, these aren’t holidays,’ Shafqat Mahmood to students

    Pakistan’s educational institutions had to be closed down because coronavirus infections were rising very fast, Federal education Minister Shafqat Mahmood tweeted Tuesday morning.

    He said it was done with a heavy heart, Geo reported.

    “I request all students to use this time not as a holiday but to revise their courses, do homework,” he said.

    The federal education minister asked students to continue with their studies “as much as possible”.

    Mahmood had made similar remarks last week while talking to Geo Pakistan. He had said the decision to close down educational institutes was taken due to non-compliance with government-issued coronavirus SOPs.

    “The SOPs were not being followed as they should have been,” he had said, adding that health department data showed rapid virus transmission in education institutes.

    Stressing that children’s health cannot be taken lightly, Mahmood said there were around 50 million students across the country i.e. one-fourth of our population. “They can become carriers. So it was necessary to shut down schools.”

  • NCOC closes 22 educational institutions in the last 48 hours for not following SOPs

    NCOC closes 22 educational institutions in the last 48 hours for not following SOPs

    The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has shut down around 22 educational institutions across the country for not following government-approved standard operating procedures (SOPs) and health protocols in the last 48 hours.

    “During the last 48 hours, 22 educational institutions across Pakistan have been closed due to non-compliance of health SOPs/protocols and disease prevalence,” read a statement by centre monitoring the pandemic.

    Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood had earlier shared the proper guidelines for reopening of educational institutions on Monday.

    Read more – COVID-19 cases increasing through hospitals in Islamabad

    As many as 16 educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), one in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and five in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have been closed, as per the NCOC media release.

    Educational institutions were reopened on Tuesday (September 15). Prime Minister Khan tweeted to welcome children back to school after a long break due to Covid-19.

  • PM welcomes children back to school, deletes tweet after realising schools are re-opening tomorrow

    PM welcomes children back to school, deletes tweet after realising schools are re-opening tomorrow

    Confusing days and dates once again, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Monday tweeted to welcome children back to school after a long coronavirus break, only to delete the post after realising that educational institutions won’t be re-opening until tomorrow.

    As per the details, the premier took to Twitter and wrote:

    While he deleted the tweet soon after, in a subsequent tweet PM Imran said:

    “Tomorrow we will welcome millions of children back to school. It is our priority and collective responsibility to ensure that every child can go to school safely to learn. We have worked to ensure that school operations are aligned with public health safety rules on #COVID19,” he wrote.

    This isn’t the first time that the premier, on top of several verbal blunders, has confused the dates.

    Earlier this year, he had asked Muslims “to offer special Nuwafil prayers and seek Allah’s blessings and forgiveness on the occasion of Shabe Baraat tonight”, later deleting his tweet when people had told him the night had already been observed a day ago.

    Mid-Sha’ban or Shabe Baraat is a holiday observed by Muslim communities on the night between 14 and 15 of the Islamic month of Sha’ban. It is regarded as a night when the fortunes of individuals for the coming year are decided and when Allah forgives sinners.

    Twitterati, as usual, had not let go of PM Imran’s faux pas easy.

  • Educational institutions to re-open on Sept 15?

    Educational institutions to re-open on Sept 15?

    Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Monday chaired a meeting of provincial education ministers to make a final decision on whether to reopen educational institutes across the country from September 15, The News reported.

    According to reports, the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) chairperson and executive director, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, and officials of the health department were also present at the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC), which aimed to compile the final recommendations regarding the opening of educational institutes.

    The recommendations to resume educational activities would be sent to the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) for further deliberations among all the stakeholders.

    The meeting was set to also focus on finalising the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in this regard. Educational institutes across Pakistan had been shut down back on March 13 in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

    The Single National Curriculum (SNC), a short curriculum for the current academic year, examinations in 2021, and establishment of anti-harassment bodies in the provinces were also on the meeting’s agenda.

    A discussion on the transition plans related to the Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) and National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) was also planned for the IPEMC.

    In this regard, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said all educational institutes were to open between September 15 and 30.

    All classes starting Grade 9 and up, as well as all universities, would reopen from Sept 15, while Grade 6-8 classes would resume by Sept 22, Ghani said, adding, however, that pre-primary and primary classes would reopen on Sept 30.

    The provincial minister warned that the schools in any area that may witness a rise in the number of coronavirus cases would be closed.

    Wearing face masks would be mandatory in the schools and strict action was to be taken in case of violation of the coronavirus-related SOPs, he added.

    Moreover, Punjab Education Minister Dr Murad Raas said there would be “no double shift”.

    “Alternative day schedule to be followed by all public & private schools,” Raas said on Twitter.

    Separately, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the provincial education department has decided to conduct coronary tests on school staff and students.

    “Health Department’s teams will be visiting public and private educational institutions to conduct random tests of teachers / staff / students / canteen vendors and all those persons who are working within the premises of educational institutions in an effort to detect COVID-19 positive cases and prevent the spread of disease,” a notification shared on the Twitter account of the ruling PTI’s KP chapter stated.