KARACHI, Aug 26: Majority of the position holders of HSC (Science Pre-Engineering and Science General) annual examinations-2003 observed that the compulsory attendance rules in the case of government colleges was not effective as the education department, educational board and college administrations and teachers did not take it serious at all.

At a ceremony held for declaration of intermediate examination results on Tuesday, the situation turned odd for the educational managers, present on the occasion, only when some meritorious male students revealed that they did not attend colleges, regularly, and at no stage bothered about attendance there.

“We were never asked or reminded by any of our teachers or even principal, to ensure a minimum of 75 per cent attendance; we lacked good teachers in some subjects, while on the other hand the way of teaching and the overall environment was also not satisfactory from examinations point of view,” remarked most of the position holders.

One of the students expressed total ignorance regarding any condition printed on the educational board’s examination form or any intimation by principal with regard to the compulsory attendance.

When asked to comment on observations made by students, different education officials avoided to talk on the subject in a categoric manner. They complained about the prevailing system and pressure groups, while trying to shift responsibility to others.

Responding to the queries by newsmen, the Executive District Education Officer (Colleges), Prof Rais Alvi, claimed that during the session 2001-2002, for the first time, efforts were made to implement the compulsory attendance rule in letter and spirit, but added that during the last session (2002-2003) things could not be enforced effectively for various reasons.

“We will be able to implement the attendance rule in the new session, provided college principals, teachers, DOE (colleges), educational board and the people at the helm of affairs are ready to play their role,” he added, saying that during the last two years attendance rules were observed strictly, at least at girls colleges.

The EDO (colleges), Prof Haroon Rashid, said that things could not be implemented in the existing social conditions, mainly because of interference by pressure groups and shortage of teachers at colleges. He held that parents could play a vital role in this regard.

The chairman of the Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi, Prof Iftikhar H Zaidi, said that he had to rely on college principals and teachers to implement policies. He said that he would surely order a survey why the attendance rules were not observed at colleges, last year, and who was responsible for making the rules a mockery.

A senior teacher, who also talked on the attendance rules, finally, agreed that all concerned, who talked on the issue, failed to defend themselves. He urged teachers and students to volunteer for the success of attendance rules at colleges, which, he said could improve academic environment and discipline.

Talking to newsmen, some of the position holders, however, maintained that they joined tuition centres only because there they got personnel attention and opportunities to interact with teachers. Tuitions provided us with the teaching methodology, which helped us secure higher grades, they added.

Moniza Naseem, seat no 384326, who clinched first position in the consolidated merit list of HSC Part-II Science (Pre Engineering) examination, wanted to be an electronic engineer. She expressed dissatisfaction over the present system of examinations and also stressed for changes in curriculum.

Ahmad Minhas, seat no 372932, who secured second position, saideducation should be aimed at equipping students with different skills, generating his or her interest not only in subjects of his choice, but also in other disciplines. He also emphasized improvement in the standards of books and updating of teachers with respect to modern days developments and techniques.

The third position holder in the pre engineering group, Zohaib Ali Khan, seat no 373335, said that he would now switch over to business management education as the scope of jobs for science graduates was reducing. He said that it would be inappropriate to implement Urdu as the only medium of instruction in educational institutions as many of the course books were yet to be developed in Urdu.

SCIENCE GENERAL: Maria Shamim, seat no 389718, who got first position in Science General group, said that semester system of examinations should be introduced as it would reduce the work load on students. She wanted to do her further education in Business Administration.