MUZAFFARABAD: (Parliament Times) In a new development the AJK government accorded approval of passing marks in annual examinations in the State to 45 percent instead of 33 percent.
This was decided in a meeting of higher education chaired by AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan on Tuesday. The meeting decided to set up endowment fund in AJK on the pattern of Punjab for promotion of higher education in the State. PhD scholarship programme would be kicked off in AJK this year, it added.
The meeting decided that cabinet would determine the future of those public colleges that are lacking required strength of students. The meeting gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister on higher education. He was told that biometric system was being introduced in the colleges soon. 28 colleges would be provided buses including girls colleges. It was revealed that no bus for any college was purchased since 2004.
The PM was told that 469 posts of Lecturers, 96 Assistant Professors, and 45 posts of Assistant Librarians were sent to Public Service Commission (PSC) for appointments. The PSC assured that by the end of vacations recruitment process on these posts would be completed, observed the meeting.
The meeting disclosed that computer labs would be set up for BS programme in 12 colleges in the next financial year.
The Premier was also told that 100 principals were provided management course training under Kashmir Institute of Management. This facility would be extended to more principals. It was revealed that 12 colleges had no land, 46 had no buildings and 9 had no labs. A number of institutions had less than 100 students or just 50.
The meeting observed that uniform and time table were mandatory for colleges. Colleges also had video link contact.
Addressing the meeting the Prime Minister observed that AJK had made great progress in education sector with better education standard in the past 3 years. He said confidence in public institutions also restored resulting in increase of admissions in them. He recalled that there was just one college in 1947 in the liberated territory while there were 174 colleges in AJK today. He said under reconstruction programme great buildings of educational institutions were built. Steps also needed for their protection, he added. He assured that educational needs in the state would be met. He said objection on biometric system was unacceptable. He acknowledged that there was much unemployment in the State. He lauded the role of higher education minister Waqar Noor for betterment of higher education. He said the entire department performed well in implementing the visision of government on education.
Meanwhile addressing an Iftar dinner held for Ulema in Prime Minister House the other day Mr. Haider assured that his government would resolve the problems faced to Ulema and Mushaikh and seminaries. He said an amount in next budget would be set aside to provide funds for their needs. Steps would be taken to regularize the services of temporary “Aima Karam” in the next budget, he assured.