FBISE intermediate exams duties | NBF Book festival

College teachers to refuse FBISE duties
Islamabad, April 18: College teachers have decided to refuse any assignment of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education in the forthcoming examination of intermediate (HSSC) 2013.

The situation arose on Wednesday when representatives of college teachers visited the office of the controller of exams.

A participant of the meeting said Federal Government Colleges Teachers Association (FGCTA) had met with Shaheen Khan, Chairperson of FBISE, on Tuesday to voice certain concerns.

The meeting was held in a pleasant atmosphere, as Shaheen Khan heard the concerns and promised to see into the issues personally. She also asked the representatives to see the controller of exams.

"When the representatives of the college teachers visited the Controller of Examinations on Wednesday, he behaved in an indecent manner. The issue flamed up when the controller of exams ignored the concerns of the teachers," the participant said.

The controller had refused to assign duties to the teachers according to their seniority, claiming that he could not manage the seniority in 700 exam centres.

Another teacher said it was illogical to hold three practical sessions in the subject of Statistics, whereas other science subjects such as Physics and Chemistry only held two sessions per day despite having more students.

"The Controller of Exams is not even willing to listen to the concerns, and refuses to consider the issue," he added.

A teacher of statistics said, "It is unjust; FBISE has scheduled three groups of practical exams in a single day, and each group works in the labs for 2 hours. There is a gap of one hour only, making it a lengthy and tiring exercise."

A teacher from H-8 College said teachers from far flung areas were invited and a large sum was paid as Traveling Allowance and Daily Allowance (TA/DA).

This was being done to oblige relatives of different officials of FBISE, which damaged the exams system and raised questions on the credibility of the board.

President FGCTA Professor Tahir Mahmood said college teachers had always extended their cooperation to the FBISE in various assignments regardless of the low remunerations.

"The teachers are completely free to accept or decline assignments offered by the FBISE. There is no legal obligation because they are not employees of the board. They have to consider their own availability and choice," he said.

However, Tahir Mahmood said when this point was raised in front of the Controller, he threatened to cancel affiliation of the colleges with the FBISE.

Professor Deedar Ali Baloch, General Secretary of FGCTA, said, "A meeting of FGCTA officials was held soon after the visit to FBISE, and it was decided that college teachers would not accept any assignment offered by the FBISE until the Controller was replaced and penalised for his behaviour."

Chairperson FBISE, Shaheen Khan said that she would not allow any officer of FBISE to humiliate teachers.

"I will personally look into the matter and will resolve the issue. During the meeting, I had recognised the issues and suggested that the FGCTA meet the controller examination Mr Tariq Pervaiz," she said.

"The controller doesn't have the authority to cancel affiliation of any college. All genuine demands of teachers will be accepted," she added. Dawn

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FDE okays schools in sectors F-17, B-17
Islamabad: Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) on Monday granted permission for construction of four schools in sector F-17 and B-17 of Multi Professional Cooperative Housing Society (MPCHS).

According to a press release issued here, MPCHS will provide required space for the construction of boys and girls schools and FDE will bear construction and other educational expenses to make these institutions operational.

The construction of these model schools will benefit the children living in the sectors and adjoining areas.

The people appreciated the construction of girls' school because they have to go far away for their education purposes.

The sector B-17 is located between GT road and the motorway while F-17 is on Fatehjung road at Motorway Interchange and near new International Airport.

In these sectors, the work of development has almost completed.

The new International Airport is in its final stages of constructions that will be operational in the coming year. App

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NBF book festival from 20th
Islamabad: National Book Foundation (NBF) has planned a three-day book festival with slogan 'back to book - read for life' to mark the National Book Day (NBD) being held on April 22.

The celebrations will kick off at NBF head office on April 20 and end on April 22.

Well-known writers, poets, intellectuals, columnists and leaders of civil society will participate in the festival.

Talking to media, the Managing Director of the NBF, Mazharul Islam said it was for the first time in the history of the country that prominent writers and intellectuals would communicate with their readers and answer their questions.

The purpose of this activity is to cement the bond of friendship between the general public and the book.

He said this was the fourth consecutive mega book event being celebrated by the NBF at the national level. According to the MD NBF, the event is aimed at making people book lovers.

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Colleges affairs being run on ad hoc basis
Islamabad: The two largest postgraduate colleges of the capital, Islamabad Model Postgraduate College, H-8 and Islamabad Model Postgraduate Commerce College H-8/4, have been without principals since April 5.

Besides, women colleges of F-7/2 and G-10/4 have acting heads and I-8/3 Degree College's principal is going to retire in July.

But the ad hocism in the educational institutions hardly made any difference for the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development (CAD) and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

An officer of CAD requesting not to be identified said that the offices of principals of both H-8 Colleges fell vacant on April 5 on the retirement of Professor Kazim Hussain and Professor Raja Abdul Hafeez.

Since then no one has been given even acting charge to run the colleges affairs. As a result the academic and administrative issues are piling up.

A faculty member of Commerce College said total chaos ruled his college as there was no one to keep proper check on the its affairs. In fact, the colleges were in total mess.

"Students come with their parents to college get their routine issues resolved but returned in disappointment and frustration when they learnt that the person concerned was not available as no body could tell them whom should they meet," he said.

A senior officer of FDE requesting anonymity said that the biggest women college of the city (F-7/2 College) was also running on ad hoc basis.

"Principal of Islamabad Model Postgraduate College for Girls, F-7/2, Rehana Shabbir retired in October 2012. Acting charge of the college was given to Ms Talat Samiullah (BPS 19) and she has been running college since then," he said.

"Vice principal of G-10/4 girls college, Durdana Asrar, was promoted in basic pay scale 20 a month ago, due to which she was appointed as principal of F-7/2 College but she will leave the college on April 14 after attaining the age of superannuation," he said.

"The vice principal of G-10/4 College, Dr Musarrat Parveen, is in BPS 20 but she has been running the college as acting principal," he said.

"Principle of Girls Degree College I-8/3 Hamida Metlo is going to retire in July 2013 but there is no senior teacher in the college who could replace her so CAD should nominate some one who will fill the seat," he said.

Professor Deedar Ali Baloch, General Secretary Federal Government College Teachers Association (FGCTA) remarked that postgraduate level colleges had been left at the mercy of CAD.

Discussing the situation of H-8 Colleges, he said the apathetic attitude of CAD had affected the studies of students, overall discipline, and the smooth working of all the sections of the colleges.

Professor Tahir Mahmood, President FGCTA said that in a meeting with Secretary CAD in January, he had informed her about the retirement dates of the principals and other issues.

She had assured that principals would be posted in time but the promise remained unfulfilled.

DG FDE Dr Shahnaz A Riaz said that she had instructed Director Federal Government Colleges Mehmood Akhtar Malik to give acting charge of principles to senior most faculty members in both the colleges of sector H-8.

"As far as appointment of fulltime principals is concerned, I have requested CAD to take immediate steps and appoint principals in the colleges," she said. Dawn

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