Islamabad, January 20, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Senate committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on Friday Unanimously passed the Bill titled The right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2022 introduced by Senator Fawzia Arshad. The amendment aims at prescribing computer sciences, coding and programming as fundamental right of elementary to high school students, to enable them understand and learn the skills of new technology in this era of convergence and subsequently getting excellent jobs in the future and succeed in their lives. The bill was deliberated at length and was passed. The committee decided to visit the madrasas and see on ground situation of the implementation on the curriculum, involving technology and computers.
The Senate Federal Education and Professional Training committee on Friday redirected the matter of issue of examination faced by the students of law in Bahauddin Zakariya University to the privilege committee on account of breach of privilege on the non-compliance of the committee recommendations. Irfan Siddiqui commented that on the request of the Vice Chancellor the committee issued instructions which were not complied by him rather treated as insignificant and having no relevance, therefore the matter is taken to the privilege committee with the core objective of its resolution.
The committee also decided that the matter shall remain alive on the agenda till it is resolved, since the future of the students is deteriorating each passing day. The Senate Federal Education and Professional Training committee on Friday had heated debates regarding the point of public importance on the issue of examination faced by the students of law in Bahauddin Zakariya University raised by Senator Behramand Khan Tangi. The learned counsel for the Vice Chancellor categorically sworn to convey to the committee that Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan has strictly restrained the committee to interfere in the matter.
He further said that he has not come with any ill will but with the permission to grant letter to him by the senate committee for intervention in the matter. The chairman committee said that the committee can proceed in the matter parallel to the court case and also said that since the previous recommendations have not been honoured and set aside, the matter should be taken to the privilege committee and the responsible held for this and those ruining the future of the students should be reprimanded.
The learned counsel of the Vice Chancellor argued that the notification for the exams was issued however the Pakistan Bar Council took the matter to the Supreme Court indicating that the university has bogus students. He claimed that around 5000 students were bogus however 6000 were genuine students and their exams were conducted while an inquiry was held on the remaining 5000 students. He further apprised the committee that the Supreme Court issued order that after approval of the directorate of legal education that the HEC will mark the papers and after evaluating the eligibility of the students the result will be declared.
The Supreme Court also ordered for the full record of students from last 3 years, however a contempt of court was issued against the vice chancellor on grounds of providing inadequate record. He apprised that a JIT was constituted and according to its report all the students were declared bogus on the basis of their attendance record. Since then the matter is unresolved he said. The matter was sent to the privilege committee and held answerable the Vice Chancellor to explain as to why the exams were not conducted resulting in wrecking the future of the students.
The committee also considered Public Petition no. 5020 submitted by Dr. Qayyum Shah pertaining to grant NOC and equivalency for PhD degree in Engineering through UET, Peshawar and HEC, Islamabad. The matter was discussed at length on the point that PhD degree in Engineering cannot be obtained unless the award hold a BS degree in the same; the chairman committee recommended the Chairman HEC, and the Vice Chancellor to sit together and hear the grievance of the petitioner and resolve the matter under the rules. The committee sought report on the matter.
The committee also took discussion on the issuance of notification for appointment /posting of junior lady teachers at Islamabad Model College. The special committee on affected employees has directed to regularize all daily wagers/ contract employees, however the Islamabad High court has restrained from regularization of services of daily wagers/contract employee till the next date of hearing The matter was deferred for further deliberation in the presence of the teachers.
The Bill titled The Al-Ala University Bill, 2022 was deferred due to the absence of the movers. The meeting was attended by Senators Prof. Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani, Fawzia Arshad, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Molvi Faiz Muhammad Bahramand Khan Tangi and Senator Khalida Sikandar Mandhro. Chairman HEC Vice Chancellor UET Peshawar and officials of other attached departments were also in attendance.
For more information, contact:
Senate of Pakistan
H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9204564534
Fax: +92-51-9205703
E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk
Website: www.senate.gov.pk