LAHORE, March 14: Physics is likely to be deleted from FSc pre-medical group next year on the “desire” of Federal Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi. Official sources told Dawn on Tuesday that the minister wanted its deletion because he was of the view that the subject had nothing to do with the relevant professional studies like MBBS and BDS.

They said the proposal was sent to the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) for a discussion where some of its members had opposed it.

The IBCC, comprising intermediate and secondary education board chairpersons, is responsible for coordination among them (boards) and implementation of the national education policies and plans.

The sources said the IBCC had also forwarded the proposal to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for response as well. However, the PMDC had yet to submit its reply.

“The final decision will be made after the council’s observation,” an IBCC official said.

Senior physicists of the Punjab University and the University of Engineering and Technology told this reporter that it would be injudicious to exclude physics from the FSc pre-medical group.

“The idea seems to be derived from some foreign educational institutions where the teaching and syllabus of the subject are very strong at elementary and secondary levels. In Pakistan, it is otherwise,” they said.

They apprehended that if the proposal was finalised, it would have a damaging effect on the standard of science education in the country.

“Knowledge of physics is essential to pursue career in medical research. Why does someone think that a student interested in pursuing medical profession is not required to have knowledge of angiography, ST scan, MRI, radiation and magnetic resonance and other latest diagnostic systems,” they said.

They said they would take the issue to different forums to pressurise the government in this respect.