KARACHI, July 9: The Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi, is planning to introduce Intermediate in Computer Science (ICSc) in all the government colleges in the province in collaboration with the Sindh Information Technology Board from the next academic year.

“The ICSc will open the doors for students to higher education to become computer engineers and scientists,” sources in the Board said on Tuesday.

Currently, some of the government colleges in other provinces, like Punjab, offer Intermediate in Computer Studies (ICS) which helps students learn about tools, functions and use of computers.

However, it does not enable a student to qualify for higher education to become a computer engineer or a scientist.

Taking note of the fact, the Board is also working on the preparation of a curriculum for ICSc, which will be implemented after its endorsement from various provincial education authorities.

After having the approval of the Sindh education department, the curriculum will be sent to the federal education department to get its advice and approval for implementing the two-year ICSc course from the next academic year.

The curriculum will be designed in a way through which the ICSc certificate-holders will be eligible for Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) education in reputed computer education institutions in the country.

With the launching of the ICSc discipline in all the government colleges in the province in 2003 or 2004, there will be three professional streams of education — medical, engineering and computer science.

As the subject of implementing a curriculum lies with the federal government, the Board, through Sindh government, will try to convince the federal education ministry to implement the ICSc curriculum.

In the meantime, the Board is working on development of courses with the SITB and Sindh Board of Technical Education (SBTE), Karachi, to start Computer Studies-I (CS-I) at the secondary school level from next year. It will help the BIEK impart training to students, seeking admission to the ICSc classes in colleges.

After the start of the ICS classes in colleges, the students who have not studied CS-I in schools will also be given an option to study the ICS.

Currently, the BIEK is also involved in designing three new vocational computer courses of six months to one year duration to be offered to students studying at some computer institutes and colleges in the province.

The BIEK hopes to finalize the syllabus, scheme of studies and teaching materials by December this year or January. These courses may be offered from the start of next academic session, subject to approval of the scheme.

The BIEK has also decided to act as an examiner to the proposed vocational courses. This practice will help recognize the vocational courses, to be conducted by private partners, as the BIEK certified. The certificates will also bear the SITB certification stamp.—PPI