KARACHI, Jan 20: The syllabus of computer science (information technology) introduced at the Intermediate level (class XI and XII) from the current academic session is not only ”outdated” and “very broad” but the facilities required to teach the subject are hardly available in only 30 out of the 90 colleges of the city.
Although all city colleges and higher secondary schools of Sindh came under the administrative control of the City government with effect from Aug 14, 2001, with the promulgation of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance-2001, neither the provincial education department nor the Board of Intermediate Education (BIE), Karachi, bothered to get the consent of the City Nazim before introducing computer science as a compulsory subject and charging an additional Rs1,000 from students.
Academics are of the view that the education department and the BIEK were required to get the syllabus of the newly introduced subject approved from the federal ministry of education’s curricula wing before making computer science mandatory for all students of Intermediate classes.
But the BIEK, as well as the provincial education department, in its efforts to introduce computer science as a compulsory subject from the current academic year referred the syllabus to the NED University of Engineering and Technology for getting its opinion with regard to the syllabus and the comments given by the NED University’s information technology/computer science department in their remarks about the syllabus are as follows.
NED’s VERSION: The head of the NED University of Engineering and Technology’s Information Technology/Computer Science department in his comments about the syllabus stated that “the syllabus for Intermediate examination is hardly relevant. It is very broad and will not cover the contents. Even if they do students cannot grasp all the topics. Some of the topics covered are also outdated and there is no need to include them. Syllabus be precise and focussed.”
BIE’s NOTIFICATION: The notification issued by the Board of Intermediate Education (BIE), Karachi, for getting the computer science subject introduced in the Intermediate classes as compulsory subject gives one an impression as if the subject has been included in the Intermediate level on the whim of a single official, ie provincial education secretary.
The BIE’s notification (No BIE/Acad/IT/1423) issued to colleges on Aug 22, 2001, states inter alia: “It is hereby notified for information of all concerned that as per orders of secretary, education department, government of Sindh, (vide letter No SO (ACD-II) 13 (68),’97 dated 1.8.2001, Information Technology of 100 marks (60 theory plus 40 practical) has been introduced as a compulsory subject for Class XI and XII (Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical), Humanities (Regular) and Home Economics groups from academic session 2001-2002.
Contrary to the city’s colleges where the computer science subject has been introduced in the Intermediate course from the current academic session, all the boards of the Punjab have included computer science at Intermediate level as an additional subject.
It means that marks obtained in computer science subject in Punjab colleges will not have any bearing on the candidates’ grades whereas the marks secured in the subject in Karachi colleges will directly affect the students’ grades.
In support of their contention that computer science has been introduced as an additional subject in the Punjab, the sources quoted Punjab’s education department’s notification of Sept 22, 2001, which clearly says: “Computer Science be also studied as an additional subject and students of Arts and Science subjects combinations can study computer science in addition to their regular subjects and Intermediate and Secondary education boards will conduct the examination of computer science subject, evaluate the script, award marks and reflect these marks in the result cards of candidates, but these marks in case of computer science as an additional subject, shall not be included in total marks. The marks obtained in computer science as an additional subject shall, therefore, have no bearing on the overall grades of candidates.”
Moreover, all the students who were admitted to first year classes in the City Government’s colleges/higher secondary schools were made to pay an extra Rs1,000 for computer science whereas the total annual fee of these institutions for First Year (Science) students was Rs950 and for First Year (Commerce and Home Economics) students was only Rs770.