September 03, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 2, 1429

HYDERABAD, Sept 2: Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui has said that external examination system introduced by the university is aimed at improving the education system better.

He was addressing the principals and teachers of affiliated degree colleges of Sindh University at a workshop on restructuring of examination for external candidates in affiliated colleges at Government Muslim College here on Monday.

The workshop was organised by the university and the Regional Directorate of Colleges and aimed at creating awareness among college teachers about new system of examination developed for students sitting in BA and MA examinations as external candidates.

The vice-chancellor said teachers had failed in imparting quality education and society was not satisfied with the output of teachers.

He said that at an initial stage some difficulties would occur but finally the new system of examination would fulfil the objectives.

He said the university had brought to the notice of the education minister the problems being faced by degree colleges and he had promised that these problems would be solved on priority basis.

Announcing increase in scholarships for PhD for college teachers, the vice-chancellor said the minister had assured him that study leave would be granted to college teachers.

Introducing the new system of examination, the university’s controller of examination, Dr Pervez Ahmed Pathan, said that due to dismal situation of degree programmes offered to private candidate in relation to its quality, conduct and contents, a chancellor’s committee was constituted in 2001 and it was purposed to restructure bachelor (BA) and master programmes.

He said that the matter was kept pending and very limited initiative was taken by universities in Sindh and added that it was the University of Sindh which took the challenging task on priority basis.

He said a consultative committee headed by the vice-chancellor was constituted with Professor (Dr) M.Y Khuhawar as its convener to develop a workable proposal which could be implemented in 2008.

He said external examination had been split into two phases in an academic calendar.

He said that under the new schedule, December every year is proposed for regular examinations and the month of September or October every year for external examinations.

Highlighting the procedure of new system of examination Dr Pathan said the committee had divided the entire programme into three parts i.e. application and registration; development and design and assessment and examination.

He said three assignments per each optional as well as compulsory subject in each discipline would be offered and each assignment would carry 10 marks.

He pointed out that progress of receiving assignment remained poor. He further said that question paper would comprise a mixture of MCQs, short notes and descriptive questions with maximum marks of 70. The examinations shall be held in all district headquarters in the jurisdiction of the University of Sindh, Dr Pathan said.

Dr Khuhawar highlighted the main features of the proposed system of examination.

Professor Abdul Salam Khoja, director colleges, Hyderabad region, Professor Mohammad Nawaz Channa and others also expressed their views.