KARACHI, April 8: The future of 142 students of Dawood College of Engineering and Technology (DCET) is at stake as current vice-chancellor of NED University of Engineering and Technology has once again refused to conduct examination of various batches of the college, including the 1995-96 batch.
The students of ’95-96 batch said that they should also be provided chances, which were provided to 1991-92 and 1993-94 batches.
They said that examination of these batches was conducted despite lapse of seven years, fixed by Pakistan Engineering Council, but the ’95-96 batch was being meted out step-motherly treatment.
They said that they would file a petition in Sindh High Court very soon to be able to take examinations like previous batches. The students said they would soon launch a series of protests in Karachi and Islamabad, besides staging sit-ins outside Sindh Chief Minister’s House and Prime Minister’s House.
They said that if examinations of these students were not held, the country would face a considerable loss in engineering sector. They said that on one hand the government was making claims of boosting higher education while on the other hand students had been left at the mercy of what they called a ‘one-man show’ in NED University.
The students also strongly criticized the attitude of some officials of Pakistan Engineering Council and Higher Education Commission. They said that these officials had ignored this serious issue concerning future of students, despite drawing heavy salaries from funds collected through students’ fees.
NED Vice-Chancellor Abul Kalam, when contacted, said that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and the Syndicate, however, could do something to help these students, adding that personally he is not fully authorized in this regard.
He said that students were suffering because of irresponsibility of the administration of their college at the time. He admitted that these students were innocent as the college administration was responsible for their miseries.
A source in NED University said that the VC was considering the matter of DCET students and was proposing to conduct special classes of failed students, and then allowing them to take examination.
Another source said that Karachi University had provided a chance to the students of 1992-93 and ’95-96 batches by holding special short classes of failed papers, as a result of which many students passed the exams and got their degrees.
The students said that they failed in their papers because of acute shortage of textbooks in the library, no practical experiments throughout the year, holding of no classes for half the year, their expulsion from hostels, and the closure of college due to a series of bloody clashes between rival student groups.
They said that students of various parties several times threw out even principles and teachers from their offices and beat up students ruthlessly, which caused prolonged closure of the college, but at that time the relevant officials of Sindh and federal government paid no heed in this regard.
The students said that federal education minister, Sindh education minister, Sindh governor and Sindh chief minister were well aware of these incidents.
They said that at present 142 students were awaiting a nod from the Sindh governor, Sindh chief minister and Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro, as the college was being handed over to Sindh government.—PPI
