DNA

Islamabad: 23rd June 23 – The Inter-University Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS), along with its partner higher education institutes, has initiated a lecture series entitled “Sharing Best Academic Practices.”

Other organizations like Global Academic Leaders Academy, the National Skills University Islamabad and University of Lahore will also be partnering with this program.

Higher Education Institutes worldwide are facing unprecedented challenges due to the current pandemic the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).In this connection, the inaugural keynote lecture was delivered by renowned international higher education expert, Prof. Dr. Sohail Naqvi, Rector University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and former Executive Director Higher Education Commission Pakistan.

The title of his presentation was “Defining and Devising Excellence in Higher Education During & Post COVID-19 Era. Academic leaders, vice chancellors, rectors, faculty across the country participated in this lecture delivered via Zoom.According to Professor Naqvi, no doubt the COVID-19  virus has  posed multiple challenges in academia; however, at the same time, it gives opportunities for digitalizing universities across the world through learning from one another’s experience and best international and regional practices.

Prof. Naqvi discussed four important avenues related to university governance i. e  autonomy and accountability;  structure of university governance and management;  strong and independent quality assurance system, and  sistance/digital education. Professor Naqvi characterized these four pillars necessary for making a world-class university.  He specifically gave an overview of the Bologna process that guarantees coherence in qualification framework to the higher education system across Europe, and comparing it with the North American system mentioned that both these systems have several commonalities. In defining the guiding principle of the European higher education setup, he  highlighted a three-cycle higher education system, including bachelor’s masters and doctoral studies which was also adopted by Higher Education Commission Pakistan to bring Pakistani higher education qualification framework at par with international standards and requirements. Every institution in Europe and North America has this system that has portability and interchangeability in case the learner (student) change institution during studies. He also highlighted importance of autonomy of universities for promoting culture of creativity, innovation and research. He was of the view that without independent quality assurance system, real change could not be brought aimed at  improving quality and standards in higher education sector. He has emphasized over discouraging  unnecessary delays and NOC culture in higher education sector. According to Dr. Naqvi, Pakistan academia has great potential to progress provided they have the autonomy, independence, and given specific targets.Dr. Naqvi’s talk followed with a lengthy question-answer session.Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor, National Skills University, and Founding Chairperson of the IUCPSS applauded the efforts of Prof. Naqvi in uplifting the higher education in Pakistan and now globally. He thanked all participants of the seminar and Murtaza Noor, including his team, for this timely initiative.                                           Released by: Muhammad Murtaza Noor National Coordinator Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan.

PESHAWAR, JUNE 23 : Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Mushtaq Ghani has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for the second time.

According to the assembly secretariat, the speaker of the provincial legislature underwent a second test after two weeks of self-quarantine, which also turned out to be positive for the highly contagious disease.

In a statement, Mushtaq Ghani said his second test was declared positive despite the fact that he has not shown any symptoms of the contagion.

The speaker, who had tested positive for the infection for the first time on June 13, appealed to the masses to take precautionary measures and strictly follow the government-prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to keep the disease at bay.
The novel coronavirus killed 105 more people in the country in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 3,695.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 3,946 fresh cases were detected, taking the national tally of the cases to 185,034.

71,092 cases have been detected in Sindh so far, 68,308 in Punjab, 22,633 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 9,587 in Balochistan, 11,219 in Islamabad, 869 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 1,326 in Gilgit Baltistan.

ISLAMABAD JUNE 23 : Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday the country is facing multiple challenges on internal and external fronts.

Interacting with newly-nominated Pakistan’s ambassadors to various countries, who called on him in the capital, the foreign minister said solving the issues of the Pakistani community and safeguarding their rights is among the government’s foremost priorities.

He said Pakistan is facing multiple challenges on internal and external fronts.Shah Mahmood Qureshi issued directives to the newly-designated envoys about foreign policy priorities.

In a policy statement on the floor of the senate on June 19, Foreign Minister Qureshi had rejected the impression that Pakistan gave India a walkover in the latter’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

He clarified that Pakistan didn’t abstain from voting but voted against India because of its unconstitutional steps in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including the Aug 5 move of Kashmir’s annexation.

Qureshi said India’s steps are in flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international norms.

ISLAMABAD JUNE 23 : An Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench on Tuesday issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other official respondents on a petition by an oil company.

The oil firm challenged the summons issued to it by the agency over the petroleum crisis.

The bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition and issued notices to the FIA and other respondents to submit their comments in the case by the next hearing slated for June 25. Advocate Ebadur Rehman, representing the petitioner, requested the bench to declare void the constitution of a fuel crisis committee and the summons issued to his client by the FIA.

Earlier, on June 18, a report on the petroleum crisis was presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan who then directed the authorities concerned to initiate action against oil marketing companies and all those found responsible in the matter.

According to the report, the petroleum crisis was declared artificial in the country.

PM Khan warned that the petroleum crisis will not be tolerated at any cost and ordered suspending the licences of the companies involved in the petroleum crisis. It may be made binding on all oil marketing companies to ensure oil is stocked by them to cover 21 days.

ISLAMABAD JUNE 23 : Education Minister on Monday said the government was considering opening schools under the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the country.

The minister said suggestions had been sought from the seminaries (Madaris) and private institutions of all provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Mahmood said a meeting had also been scheduled with the Ministry of Health in this regard, and that the decision would be taken in light of the NCOC data. He said the education ministry, through UNICEF, was in consultation with those countries which had opened schools under various SOPs.

He added that consultations were also being held with the UNICEL on the policy of the government.

“We want to end uncertainty on the basic important issue like education,” he said.

The minister said according to the Gallup Survey, around 70% of parents were willing to send their children to school under the implementation of SOPs. The minister hinted at holding a press conference on the issue to take parents into confidence after the preparation of a roadmap.

Sindh announces online classes for government schools

Earlier this month the Sindh government announced it had decided to start online classes for government schools, as students numbering in the thousands are forced to stay at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Online classes will be held for grades 6-12,” a notification from the Sindh education department read.

The online classes will be launched with the help of The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Microsoft, with 75 masters trainers to train teachers regarding on holding online classes.

IT experts have been hired to conduct the online classes, the notification read.

Sindh education department’s steering committee under provincial minister Saeed Ghani had decided that teaching would not be allowed in any public or private educational institutions across the province.

However, private educational institutions were permitted to start online education. All of these schools must fully comply with coronavirus SOPs Ghani had added.

The education minister had said there no final decision had been reached yet on the reopening of schools in the province as COVID-19 cases continued to rise all over Pakistan.