KARACHI, Aug 8: Admissions to first year classes of the faculties of science, humanities, commerce and home economics at 126 government colleges and higher secondary schools will start from August 13, while teaching would start in the third week of September, it was officially stated on Thursday.

Under the centralized admission policy (CAP) as approved by the city district government, the number of seats being offered for admission in government institutions for the session 2002- 2003 have been increased upto 66,175, while the number of students having passed the matriculation examinations under the Karachi board is about 687,650 — including 47,650 students of the science group.

Admissions would be granted to those students who have passed their SSC or matric technical, GCE (O level) or its equivalent examination in annual 2002 or supplementary 2001. Those students who have failed in SSC (Class X) or its equivalent in annual examination 2002 are not eligible for admission in government colleges or higher secondary schools. Students intending to appear in the SSC supplementary 2002 examinations would not be allowed admission for the year, a government official said.

At a press conference, Chairman of the CAP Committee, Prof Dr M M A Feeroze, who is also the DO education (College), said that the government had been increasing the seats for admission in educational institutions in view of the growing number of matriculates every year. He said that an increase of 3,815 seats was allowed this year, and it was a surety that there would be no problems for students seeking admission to first year classes in government run institutions.

The government had also announced the opening of eight degree colleges this year at Keamari, Lines Area, Gulzar-i-Hijri, Azizabad, Korangi, Hawkesbay Road, New Karachi and Orangi Town. Each of the eight colleges has the capacity for about 300-400 students, while arrangements for the posting of teachers and lower staff are being made at the new colleges on a priority basis, he added.

He said that admissions would be allowed purely on merit. College authorities are being asked to finalize admissions after the proper verification of documents of students, including the SSC examination mark sheets, he pointed out.

To a question he said that a private firm had been engaged for the preparation of merit and placement lists for admissions. He admitted that the hiring of the private firm was considerably costlier than that of the secondary board — which prepared merit lists in the past — but avoided revealing the amount agreed for payment to the private party.

He informed that against an average income of Rs 5.7 million per year, this year the income from the sale of prospectuses and admission forms would decrease by 50 per cent, since the government had halved the price of prospectuses this year. He said that the fee structure would remain unchanged for students, while Rs 500 would be charged from Class XI and Class XII students during the year on account of information technology education, which is mandatory for all categories of students.

He said that the purchase of college brochures or the information catalogue by students was not mandatory. He mentioned that a minimum of 75 per cent attendance would be the prerequisite for candidates to appear in the annual examination.

Feeroze said that college principals were the sole authority on the issue of attendance of students, and the educational board should rely on information provided to it on a monthly basis instead of resorting to scrutinize the attendance sheets sent by principals.

To another question, he said that the board was an affiliating and examining body, and not a controlling authority as it is largely taken by people. The board should not try to interfere in the administrative matters of colleges and impose any policy aggravating the problem of the city government or its educational institutions.

Feeroze said that admission forms and prospectuses would be available from 34 Habib Bank branches in the city on the payment of Rs 50, and students would be required to submit these back to the branches latest by Aug 23. The first merit list or placement results would be out within 15 days after Sept 23.

In the meantime, 23 guidance and information centres, including 11 for female students, would also be established.