RAWALPINDI, June 20: Khawarzmi Institute of Computer Sciences is being set up at Punjab University where research work will be carried out to produce quality doctorates.

This was stated by Punjab Education Minister Akhtar Saeed while speaking at the 34th convocation of the Government Postgraduate College for Women, Satellite Town, here on Thursday.

The provincial education minister said there was not a single Ph.D in mathematical sciences in the country. He said schools of mathematical sciences and biological sciences had already been set up at the Punjab University to carry out research work in the fields of mathematical sciences, genetics and molecular biology. He said there was a need of Ph.Ds in computer sciences to teach graduate and postgraduate classes. At present, there is hardly a doctorate available for teaching at BCS and MCS levels, he added. The minister expressed the hope that this need would be fulfilled with the establishment of Khawarzmi Institute of Computer Sciences.

Mr Saeed said the government had fixed Rs250 million for financing students, who would excel in science and technology, to continue their studies abroad. Similarly, Rs100 million had been allocated for helping those intelligent students who could not afford to pursue higher education within the country, he added.

The provincial minister said within a span of two and a half years, the government had introduced computer classes in 350 colleges in Punjab. There were 5,000 high schools out of which over 2,500 were providing computer education whereas the remaining would start classes next year.

Mr Saeed said about 6,000 middle, high and higher secondary schools had been set up throughout the province. He said the provincial government had carried out a number of reforms in the education sector despite facing several constraints. He said in the past, no provincial government had ever paid attention to schools and colleges. The minister said the present government inherited an empty exchequer and did not even have money to pay salaries to teachers and other staff. He said there were a total of 350,000 teachers and not a single one was trained. Under such conditions, it was very difficult to introduce reforms, but due to the commitment of the government, there was not a single department in the education sector that had not shown remarkable result, he claimed.

He said the government had taken several steps to improve the standard of education. The teaching methodology had been improved and teachers were being trained.

The minister said the standard of textbooks, especially those of science subjects, had been improved.

The services of the country’s best scientists had been utilized for preparing science textbooks, he added.

He regretted that the syllabus of the subject of education had not been changed since 1947. However, he announced that experts were working on a plan to set up a university of education.

Earlier, the college principal, Dr Khalida Samar, presented the welcome speech.

Presenting the overall performance report of the college, she said the college had not only set high standards of academic excellence, but also excelled in sports and extra-curricular activities. She said over the years, the students of the college had secured top positions in the board examinations.

The principal drew the attention of the education minister towards various problems, being faced by the college. She said the college was facing shortage of science laboratories. She said the present building was insufficient to cater to the needs of the increasing number of students. She said they wanted to introduce MSc Physics and the governor had also approved setting up of a block for this purpose. She said besides teachers, there was shortage of non-teaching staff in college.

Earlier, the minister distributed prizes and degrees among the students.