LAHORE, July 27: Contrary to federal government’s instructions, the Punjab Education Department has decided to continue with its policy of split system —- offering two full subjects each in Class-IX and X separately —- to avoid confusion for students.

According to the system in vogue, science group students are required to study chemistry and biology/computer science, one technical subject in Part-I and mathematics and physics in Part-II. In the humanities group, the students are required to take up general science and one elective arts or a technical subject in Class-IX and mathematics and an arts subject (elective) in Class-X.

It may be mentioned that the Federal Education Ministry following complaints against the division of the syllabus had asked Punjab and Sindh provinces to review the split system of education and examination at secondary level and offer all subjects in parts during Class-IX and X to ensure the continuity of education. Balochistan and NWFP provinces are already offering all science and arts subjects in parts in Class-IX and X.

However, the Punjab Education Department has decided that the cycle of split education and examination system should be allowed to complete. The new batch of students admitted to Class-IX in April this year is also studying under the existing split system and appear for examinations accordingly.

The decision to continue with the existing split system policy was taken at a meeting of senior education department officials chaired by Punjab Education Minister Mian Imran Masood at Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education offices on Sunday.

“We do not want to break the cycle of the existing secondary education system in between to create a confusion for students,” the education minister told Dawn.

The meeting was attended by education secretary Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, special secretary higher education Nazir Saeed, special secretary schools Hasan Nawaz Tarar, additional secretary (academics) Muhammad Akram Chaudhry, University of Education vice-chancellor Dr Mustafa Habibullah, BISE chairman Prof Dr Zikariya Butt, Punjab Textbook Board chairman Dr Fauzia Saleemi, principals of the Crescent Model School, the Divisional Public School and other senior educationists.

The meeting also decided to constitute a taskforce comprising senior educationists and teachers both from public and private sectors besides representatives of parents and students to look into the matter minutely to take a decision whether or not to continue with the existing policy for students to be admitted to Class-IX in April 2004.

The taskforce to be nominated in a couple of days will be required to finalize and present their recommendations regarding the syllabus and examination system for Class-IX and X by November this year. The meeting fixed the November deadline to make and announce decisions well before the start of new academic session in April next year.

“No new decision will be taken without ensuring proper ground work and indepth study,” the minister was quoted as saying.

The minister also said that the education sector could not afford new experiments.

“All we have collected from the previous government, we will try to make it better on the basis of our own vision and resources,” he said. He said students were education department’s top most priority and every step would be taken in their best interest.

In future, he said, rural population would also be consulted and ground realities would be kept in view while making policy decisions.

Later, the education minister distributed computers among toppers in the secondary school examination for 2003.

Talking to reporters, the minister said the decision to enhance 10 per cent seats and revival of two per cent sports quota had been implemented in all colleges in the province.

Answering a question, he claimed that evening classes had also been started by the Lahore College for Women University, the MAO College, the Government Shalamar College, Baghbanpura and the Government College for Women, Wahdat Colony.

He said the admissions were being made on a regular basis and respective colleges would themselves negotiate remuneration for teachers to conduct evening classes.