LAHORE, Oct 9: University of Engineering and Technology (UET) vice-chancellor Muhammad Akram has stressed that students should struggle and apply their minds to give innovative ideas to put the nation on the path of progress.

He said at the prize distribution ceremony of 17th annual science competitions 2004 at the National Museum of Science and Technology (NMST) the country could not achieve a respectable status in cutting edge technologies.

Realizing the situation, he said, the government was investing heavily in the education sector. The president had announced a 50 per cent per annum increase in education sector's development budget. This year, the government had allocated Rs9.1 billion for development in the education sector.

Appreciating students science models, Mr Akram said it was a very difficult job to conceive an idea and then develop it into a model.

He said he had seen a great improvement in the quality of science models over the last few years.

He stressed the students to respect their teachers as nations develop with the development of teachers. The government had also organized Salam Teachers' Day to commemorate the World Teachers Day early this week.

Admitting that resources play a vital role in the development of technologies, the VC said the NMST's board of governors would consider a proposal to fund students for their science models. He said the BoG would allocate resources and devise a plan whether to give funds before the preparation of the models or reimburse the students their cost of models.

Mr Akram asked the NMST management to constitute a committee to contact philanthropists and corporate sector to generate donations for the promotion of science and technology among young students.

He also offered students to seek guidance from senior teachers of the UET for implementing their ideas regarding science models.

Anjuman Barai Taleem, Lahore, general secretary Anwar Kamal said students had shown great enthusiasm for preparing science models but this needed to be further promoted by improving science facilities in schools.

He stressed that more and more resources should be provided to promote science.

NMST director Sajid Anwar Malik presented report of the annual essay, science quiz and models competitions.In the essay writing competition, he said, the museum had received 143 essays in open category and 312 essay in students category from all over the country. The subject for open category was "Effects of science and technology on 21st century Pakistan," while for students category, the subject was "If microscope was not invented ...?"

He said 48 teams from local schools participated in science quiz competition.

In science models competition, he said, 45 institutions had sent its 564 students with 264 science models.

Later, the VC distributed cash prizes and certificates among the winners of the science models competitions. National Fertilizer Corporation and Anjuman Barai Taleem's representatives presented prizes and certificates among essays and science quiz competition winners.

ESSAY COMPETITION: The top three positions in the open category were clinched by Sohaib Shaffi Mirza, Ms Almas Tanveer and Dr Abdul Hameed Janjua, respectively.

In the Class-I to VIII students category, Maham Mansoor (Crescent Model Higher Secondary School, girls section, Shadman, Lahore), Sahar Haider (Pakistan School Sohar, Oman) and Romana Sohail (Pakistan Foundation School, near Wafaqi Colony, Lahore) bagged the first three prizes.

In the Class-IX and X students category, the first three prizes went to Abdullah Imran (Salamat School System, boys campus, Gulberg), Hasham Amjid and Ms Jamila Haji Fazal Karim (Care High School No 1, Iqbal Town, Kot Abdul Maalik, Sheikhupura), respectively.

In the Class-XI and above students category, Umar Humayun (Salamat-ICAS, Gulberg, Lahore), Muhammad Salman Sher (PAF Public School, Lower Topa, Murree) and Wajiha Saqib (Customs Public School, Gulberg, Lahore) got the first three prizes.

SCIENCE QUIZ: The first three position holders teams in the science quiz competition are: Garrison Boys High School, Lahore Cantt; The Trust School for Boys, Thokar Niaz Beg; and Cantt Public High School for Girls, Lahore Cantt.