Moalims

LAHORE: No one can take lightly the role teachers play in revamping education standards and promoting the importance of learning, Governor Rafique Rajwana said at the University of Education’s fourth convocation ceremony held at the Expo Centre on Monday. “Education is the only path to progress and development.”

High achieving graduates – 44 PhD scholars, 153 MPhil students and 112 gold medallists – walked the stage and received their medals and merit certificates. Of the PhD students, 20 had completed their dissertation in the area of education, 14 in Urdu, two each in economics and psychology and one each in English, history, commerce, political science, Punjabi and chemistry.

Rajwana said receiving education was a basic right of all people. “This is why the government is striving to provide low-cost and high quality education at its schools.”

He stressed the need to develop a philosophy for imparting education. “It must be knowledge-based…educating without imparting knowledge is meaningless.”

The governor said it was the government’s responsibility to provide education and job opportunities to citizens. “It is the government’s responsibility to safeguard the future of our children.”

He said multi-dimensional programmes and other development schemes like the China-Pakistani Economic Corridor were among projects that would help uplift citizens. He advised students to be proactive in working for the development and progress of Pakistan.

Rajwana said it was important for private educational institutions to provide deserving needy students more opportunities of higher education. “It is their moral duty.”

He said it was a great honour for him to attend the UoE convocation. He advised students to use their gifts and education to help poorer segments of the society and take an active part in the development process.

UoE Vice Chancellor Rauf-i-Azam gave a detailed briefing about the university, its academic activities, statistics and related matters. He thanked the governor for attending the convocation.

Dr Azam said that the UoE had 10 campuses, three divisions and 44 affiliated colleges in the Punjab. He said the university offered 41 degree programmes, including bachelor’s, post graduate diploma, BS honours, masters’ and MS/MPhil and PhD programmes. He said there were 21,000 students studying at UoE campuses and divisions, and 9,000 students were studying at UoE-affiliated colleges in the Punjab.

Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Nizamuddin, UoE Examinations Controller Ashiq Hussain Dogar, Registrar Manzoom Akhter, principals of campuses, directors of divisions, members of syndicate and academic council,GCU Lahore VC Hassan Amir Shah, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Regional Director Rasool Bakhsh Behram, former vice chancellors of UoE Faizul Hasan and GCU’s Khaleequr Rehman and Prof Naeem Masood, were present at the occasion. The families of graduating students attended the ceremony as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2016.