Call to extend first-year admission date in govt colleges

Dear Editor,
Through your reputed online daily I want to draw the provincial govt’s attention towards a very important and pressing issue which the students of Chitral are facing.

A few parents from upper Chitral have been in contact with me over the past few days whose children were studying at the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School Chitral. The school is affiliated with the Aga Khan University Education Board.

The government education boards in KPK have already announced the SSC (Matric) results but the AKU-EB results are yet to be announced. As per the previous practice, we expect the results to be announced on either 24th or 25th July, 2019.

When AKU-EB was established, the purpose was to improve the quality of education in Pakistan by introducing a concept based practical curriculum to enable the students to acquire critical thinking apart from other skills. They set an academic calendar in consultation with the heads of institutions in KPK based upon which they take exams and announce results.

Upon contacting them unofficially to discuss this issue, their stance was very clear that there were processes and procedures which have to be followed strictly in order to maintain the quality for which AKU-EB is known for. This means announcing results before the stipulated time is not an option at all as it would compromise the very basic notion of quality.

What can then be done for these students who are suffering? As citizens of Pakistan they have all basic human rights including the right to education. The only way out here is to request the Principals and heads of other colleges to accept these students’ applications on provision of a HOPE CERTIFICATE issued by the AKHSS Chitral assuring the institution where they are applying, that the student’s previous year’s grades are good; based upon which we think that this student will get more than 80% marks.

It has been learnt from sources that the top institutions in Peshawar have refused to extend the deadline for applications; which means a disaster for the students of Chitral. Where would they go now? What will they do, this is the question their parents are asking.

It is my humble request to the Chief Minister of KPK to kindly intervene and resolve the issue by directing the relevant authorities to extend the last date of admission in the first year in govt. colleges of KPK.

 

Saifuddin Saif
Morder Chitral.