LAHORE: Students of the University of Education (UE) on Wednesday protested against their administration for holding on-campus examinations.

Hundreds of students carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans gathered outside the main gate of the varsity, blocked the College Road and demanded online examinations.

The UE administration had recently issued a schedule for on-campus examinations after they reopened across the country on Feb 1.

The protesting students said they were against the holding of exams since the syllabus could not be completed due to the pandemic. They demanded holding exams online or they be promoted.

UE Students Affairs Director Dr Umer told Dawn that the university had decided to conduct on-campus examinations as they had faced problems in vigilance. The students had also complained about the non-availability of electricity and internet at home. “Keeping in view the difficulties of the students, the administration decided to hold on-campus examinations,” he stressed.

He further said they also suggested the students sit online examinations from the computer labs of the university as they wanted to solve the internet and electricity issues. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) had also issued directions to universities to decide on their own about conducting on-campus examinations while strictly following the Covid-19 social distancing policy.

Later, a UE spokesperson said the protesters dispersed after agreeing to sit online examination from university labs.

BOOK PUBLISHERS: Urdu Bazaar Textbook Publishers Association on Wednesday protested against the trader association’s president, Khalid Pervaiz, and Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) for not allowing them to publish syllabus books for the academic year 2021-22.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the textbook board for ruining their businesses and Mr Pervaiz for helping the PCTB. They got all the shops in the Urdu Bazaar closed and gathered on the main road to protest.

Association convener Abuzar Ghafari said they were not against the Single National Curriculum, but policies of the PCTB about publishing books. He claimed Mr Pervaiz had joined hands with the board.

Mr Pervaiz told the media that some miscreants were protesting against him. “I have conveyed to the PCTB that they cannot publish books on their own,” he said.

He said the Single National Curriculum syllabus had not arrived and they were suffering huge losses due to the change in curriculum and not being allowed to publish the new one.

PIA EMPLOYEES: A number of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees on Wednesday protested against downsizing and non-payment of two-month salaries.

The employees gathered outside the press club and demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan take notice of the issue.

The protesters were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the PIA administration for allegedly not paying their two-month salaries and removing them from service in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. They demanded their jobs back and payment of their salaries otherwise they would continue the protest and also expand it.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2021