UHS entrance test process questioned

UHS entrance test process questioned
Lahore: A Lahore High Court division bench on Wednesday sought reply from the secretary health on May 3 on a petition against the process of entrance test for admission to medical colleges and existence of the University of Health Sciences.

The bench, comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Asad Munir, also admitted the petition for regular hearing and issued notice to respondents.

Mehvish, a student of FSc, filed the petition and pleaded through her counsel that the admission board of the UHS had announced the schedule of the entrance test but changed the old format. She pointed out that previously the students of FSc and O-level were given entrance test papers according to their curriculum but the UHS now had introduced a uniform entrance test for the students coming from the two streams of education.

She pleaded that the new uniform policy was a discriminatory act and based on malafide intention. Besides, seeking a court order to declare the new policy null and void, the petitioner also challenged the jurisdiction of the UHS to hold the entrance test, saying the establishment of the university was in violation of the constitution. She pointed out that after the promulgation of 18th Amendment, the law relating to the UHS was to be presented and passed by the Parliament in 120 days but the same had not been done which had put a question mark over the establishment of the university.

Reply sought on plea against VC's appointment
Lahore: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday again sought replies from Punjab government, chief secretary, health secretary by May 10 on a writ petition challenging appointment of university of health sciences vice chancellor, Malik Hussain Mubashar.

On Wednesday, it was told to Justice Sh Azmat Saeed that no reply was submitted by any respondent. Upon this, the judge adjourned hearing, observing that a retired officer (Dr Mubashar) was reappointed after summoning from home. The court would not declared case infructous (ineffective) rather would decide it on merit.

Recently Punjab government has reappointed Dr Mubashar as chairman of UHS on the expiry of his term. The instant petition was filed during his previous tenure.

Tahir Hameed filed the petition claiming his right to agitate the impugned appointment being a taxpayer citizen of Pakistan.

Advocate Nasir Mehmood Qureshi representing the petitioner submitted that the University of Health Sciences (UHS) was an autonomous body which was established under the University of Health Sciences, Lahore Ordinance, 2002. He said at that time, pursuant to section 12, respondent Malik Mubashar was appointed as vice chancellor on April 12, 2003.

The counsel pointed out that section 12(5) of the Ordinance says that any person who is not eligible to be appointed as professor, is disqualified for appointment as vice-chancellor.

He said the respondent after attaining age of superannuation/retirement on July 31, 2005, was not eligible to meet criteria for his appointment as vice chancellor, so his presence in office was without lawful authority.

He argued that the appointment of the respondent was made in sheer violation of appointment policy as no applications from other eligible candidates were invited before the appointment neither other equally eligible candidates were provided with an opportunity to compete for that.

Therefore, the appointment was void and of no legal affect, counsel said and prayed to the court to seek an explanation from the respondent VC under what authority of law he was holding the office particularly after completing his four years terms in the office.

And the office of the respondent might be declared vacant and the authorities concerned be directed to appoint a qualified person who would be eligible for the post, he further prayed.

LCWU presents selected films today
Lahore: The Lahore College for Women University Lahore in collaboration with The Little Art is presenting selected films from the Lahore International Children s Film Festival on Thursday (today). The venue of the film screenings is the auditorium of the Lahore College for Women University Lahore where short films will be shown for educational purposes.

The festival had its flagship event in March 2011, which met a wonderful success while bringing near 8,000 children and young people together to experience some of the world s best children s films in Lahore.

The festival aims to provide alternative learning opportunities to children in Pakistan and introduce arts as a positive learning vehicle to children and young people.

For LCWU show, the films are specially selected for education, media and film students to know how children can be educated by using the medium of film. The purpose of screening the films to Lahore College for Women University students is to sensitise the future teachers and artists who will be working with children and youth towards understanding film as educational tools and its possible use in teaching.

The festival is being organised by The Little Art, an organisation dedicated to produce innovative arts education projects for children and young people in Pakistan. It is a youth-led organisation that is determined through numerous artistic avenues, media in particular, to promote the principles and ideals of democracy, equality, civil rights, community, prosperity, higher education, religious and cultural tolerance and sustaining cultural heritage. Children and young people are its audience.

Dr Uzma Qureshi, Head of the Education Department of Lahore College for Women University, says Arts Education is an essential component of a comprehensive educational experience.

Learning through the arts often results in greater academic achievement and higher personal development and the LCWU is committed to improving educational practice by promoting values of democracy, social justice and cultural tolerance in the country .

The partners for this project hope to raise awareness among students and academia regarding arts education and demonstrating film and media as an effective arts education tool to work with children and young people.

Festival Director Shoaib Iqbal says The festival is proudly becoming synonymous with a sense of wonder and delight, cultivating the young hearts and minds destined to become our future leaders.

And we are proud of leading the innovation in arts education in Pakistan. The show we are organising with the LCWU gives us great pleasure and pride because we are introducing alternative means of education to future teachers and educated youth. The news