September 6, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) is planning to establish its campus, having engineering and medical colleges, at Sector H-12 of the capital.

This was stated by education minister Zubaida Jalal in a written reply to a query during the question-hour session of the National Assembly here on Friday. She said the construction of the campus would begin during the current financial year.

She said the government had no intention to establish separate public sector medical or engineering colleges in the capital. She said there was no proposal under consideration to set up such institutions.

The minister maintained that the University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, and the two medical colleges in Rawalpindi were sufficient for the students of twin cities.

Replying to another question, she said 33 students, including 11 girls, were studying abroad on government scholarships. She added that 17 of these students were from the Punjab, six each from Sindh and the NWFP, two from Balochistan, and one each from the AJK and federal area.

Replying to another question, the education minister said the government was not considering establishing an affiliating university in the Islamabad Capital Territory because the existing colleges were sufficient for the students in the area.

She said there were a number of universities in the capital in the public and private sectors that offered graduate and postgraduate courses and conducted examinations. However, these are not affiliating universities.

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) had received 44 applications from women teachers of FATA/NWFP education departments during the last three years for transfer on deputation on the basis that their husbands were working as federal government employees in Islamabad, minister said. She added that eight applications were received from trained graduate teachers, seven from trained under-graduate teachers, and 29 from matric trained teachers.

She also conceded that similar applications were also pending with the FDE from other provinces.

Replying to another question, Ms Jalal said the Federal Government Junior Model School, I-9/4, Islamabad, did not admit any non-residential student on fictitious certificates. She said the admissions were granted strictly in accordance with the policy issued by the FDE, which clearly prohibited admission to the non-residents of Islamabad.

The education ministry, she said, had not received any recommendation from the Islamic Ideology Council regarding national education policy.

About constitution of a commission to amend the syllabus, the minister said the government had already taken steps in this regard through curriculum reforms, teachers education and training, examination reforms and assessment as well as promotion of science and technical education.

The provincial education departments/district governments were implementing, supervising and monitoring the implementation of the syllabus suggested in the national curriculum, she added.