Governor urges UoE to lead state institutions’ revival

* Pushes UoE to train O/A level teachers
* GCU not increasing seats by 10% to be noted

Staff Report

LAHORE: Punjab Governor and University of Education (UoE) Chancellor Lt Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool on Monday asked the university administration to improve the public educational system.

Mr Maqbool was speaking at UoE’s doctoral programme’s inauguration.

He asked the administration to make ideal classrooms, curricula and examination systems, and train administrators and teachers. He asked the UoE to train people to teach A and O level students in public institutions. He directed that these training programmes lay emphasis on subjects like information technology. “The UoE will attract more teachers through this,” he said. Mr Maqbool said, “The government faces a serious challenge in making its institutions at par with private ones.” He said the government would give financial aid and scholarships to deserving and poor students.

He said he would take note of the Government College University not increasing its Intermediate seats by 10 percent, which was ordered by the government. UoE Vice Chancellor Dr Ghulam Mustafa Habibullah said, “We have managed 36 elementary teachers colleges of and six education colleges and constituent institutions. We have arranged 31 workshops on development for about 2,100 head teachers and master trainers in 2002-3.

We have planned a massive training programme for primary school teachers to improve their English language teaching skills at more than 830 training centres in Punjab.” The UoE has also trained public institutions’ teachers. “We admitted 5,646 BEd students, 360 Masters and 149 PhD research scholars in 2002-3. The teachers underwent experiential training and six month-internships.

“The UoE will have two kinds of PhD research programmes, both for serving teachers. “We got more than 800 applications for PhD admissions. We did not consider any fresh graduates’ applications.

We encourage PhD scholars to research in all areas of education, especially subjects that directly relate to teaching in schools and colleges. We admitted 11 in-service teachers and they are already conducting full time research at the main campus. We also registered 138 in-service teachers who will take courses at the main campus groups, conduct on-job research and teaching at schools and colleges.”

He said the PhD scholars would take six courses on new subjects including compulsory courses on research methodology and computer applications to enable them to begin online dialogue immediately. “Each PhD scholar will send quarterly reports on their progress.”

He said fibre optic cables were being laid for 24-hour Internet access to students to keep them in touch with global research. In addition to a large number of new books acquired by the library, the UoE subscribed to 31 research journals.

“The UoE emphasises on quality of academic work, extensive professional knowledge, creativity, and quality of research. When submitted, research dissertations will be examined and evaluated by top foreign university professors and professionals, who will decide whether they are worth publishing internationally.”

Home | National