KARACHI, Feb 6: Two high level meetings at the provincial Education Department on Thursday failed to take a decision on introducing Information Technology as a compulsory subject in colleges at intermediate level.

One of the meetings, chaired by the Education Minister, decided that the matter be left up to the cheif minister, according to the informed sources in the ministry. They claimed that considering the intensity

The ministry is in a fix over the issue. In 2001, the federal government had decided to lay great emphasis on IT education and training and in line with the decision, a comprehensive plan to streamline the process of teaching and training in the subject was unveiled. Subsequently, it was planned to introduce IT as compulsory subject in Sindh. However, the idea of holding the IT examination under the auspices of educational boards could not be finalized. The main problem was that many of the higher secondary schools in Karachi, besides schools and colleges in the interior of Sindh, were not equipped adequately for the purpose.

Amid a serious difference of opinion, the ministry has found no other option but to send a summary to the chief minister for a final decision to escape a big tussle over the issue.

The Steering Committee of the Education Department, on more than one occasion, as well as the Nazim of Karachi have already taken a strong stand insisting that the introduction of IT as compulsory subject would create no problems and that the ground work in this regard was also complete.

According to the sources, before attending the meeting with the education minister, the provincial chief secretary had convened a separate meeting to discuss the issue. Those present at the meeting included the EDOs and officials of the educational department and boards. The meeting favoured holding of the IT exams as planned in the greater interest of the students.

The sources said that the participants also agreed in principle that the subject be made compulsory. As for the shortage of IT specialists and equipment in about 10 colleges, they further said, the meeting recommended that the syllabi and question papers for the HSC annual examinations 2003 be modified in a way that students did not feel burdened while taking on the IT theory and practical examination.

Meanwhile, the minister has asked the education officials to ensure availability of computers and teachers of the subject at the colleges which lacked these facilities, the source revealed.

While the participants of the Thursday’s meetings appeared not ready to comment officially, a source in the minister’s office said that the discussion remained inconclusive.

Chairman of an education board said that the participants were directed not to leak out any part of the deliberations till the minutes of the meeting were released officially. He hoped that any decision taken on the issue would be in the greater interest of education and students.

CHIEF SECRETARY: In accordance with the decision, taken at a meeting here on Thursday, the Chief Secretary, K. B. Rind, has given one month to the Education Department to ensure availability of all the required IT equipment at 10 colleges, two of them in Karachi, where computer science education was being started, APP adds.