An archaic policy of the Fatima Jinnah Women’s University (FJWU) deprived a brilliant student of a gold medal she was initially told she would be receiving.

Madeeha Hameed, finished her Bachelors in Islamic Studies with 87.5 marks and was looking forward to the day she would be decorated with a gold meda and on Wednesday, FJWU held its 14th convocation at the Convention Centre in Islamabad.

However, at the last minute she was told she would not be receiving the medal as she only had three students in her class. And according to the universities rules, there should be at least five students in class for one of them to be awarded a gold medal.

She was especially disappointed as on the 47th page of the university booklet, her name is listed among those selected to receive a gold medal. “Madeeha Hameed is awarded the gold medal in recognition of her brilliant academic record. She has shown unwavering commitment and dedication towards her studies and diverse abilities in academics and research,” it said.

FJWU VC Samina Qadir told Dawn Madeeha Hameed was a brilliant student and she deserved a gold medal, but the varsity’s policy does not allow her to receive the award.

When asked about why the university continued classes when there were only three students, she said that initially there were six students in the class, but three left before the exams.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2015

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