ISLAMABAD: The committee formed to discuss the new semester system introduced in medical colleges two months ago has finally called its first meeting for July 28.

A large number of medical students may face having one year of their studies wasted because the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has not yet formulated a policy for the medical colleges which follow the semester system.

The PMDC management had allowed a semester system without formulating a policy for it. A committee was formed two months ago to look into the issue but it had not yet held a meeting to discuss the matter. The committee is to be headed by Prof Dr Eice Mohammad and Prof Dr Abdul Khaliq Naveed and Prof Dr Ejaz Hassan are its members.

Dr Naveed said a meeting of the committee has been called on July 28 and that the matter will be discussed the same day.

The committee was formed to look into the matter two months ago and has not met even once since then

A medical student, Waqar Hussein said he was accepted two years ago into the Jinnah Medical and Dental College, which is affiliated with the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) which had introduced a biannual semester system.

“Third year students, i.e. those in the 5th semester, who did not clear their second year exams, or those after four semesters, in two attempts were told they cannot sit in 5th semester classes. It is unfair because students in an annual system have two chances and we are given two chances for four semesters,” he said.

Mr Hussein said students were worried that a year of their studies, or at least a semester, will be wasted if the PMDC does not draft a policy soon.

JSMU has written a number of letters to the PMDC, requesting the council to formulate a policy.

The letter dated April 26, available with Dawn, says the university has been following a semester modular system of examination and that the council rules regarding promotion and exams are all designed for the annual system of examination.

“The discrepancy that arises is that the students of 3rd and 4th semester who fail to clear after the retake (supplementary) and are not promoted to 5th and 6th semester (3rd year). This is giving them a year back. We and our affiliated colleges which are five in number have approached the PMDC in this matter but we have been informed that this matter will be taken up by the council in their executive committee meeting. As the time is very short and students may lose one year, it is requested to allow the students to be promoted till final decision of council,” letter says.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Abdul Khaliq Naveed said the committee meeting was delayed because members could not be gathered due to Ramazan.

“However, a meeting has been called on July 28 and a final decision will be made on the same day as we don’t want to spoil the future of students,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2017