LAHORE: Aitchison College in Lahore, one of the most prestigious educational institutions of Pakistan, has abolished its long standing tradition of providing admissions to relatives of VVIPs through a quota system.
Established in 1866, the college had a certain allowance of admissions for relatives of important personalities. Recently, however, 25 children related to 'VVIPs' were denied admission to the school, Express News reported on Monday.
Those rejected admission include Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s close relatives, as well as the grandchildren of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer and Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
Under the new system, vacancies will be advertised in newspapers after which forms will have to be collected. Only those children who pass an admission test will be called for an interview and admissions will be given depending on the score after the submission of two tests.
Previously, admissions of relatives of important people were granted admissions without a test, purely based on sources.
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How ppl come to kmow that first list of 75 boys has above 7 yrs boys @Amir:
@Grammarian: Jealous much?
Thumbs up to this, really good act. -Misha
Very well deserved victory to 74 boys purely on merit. Fee is almost close to other mushrooms like lgs and beacon. None of the boy is over 6 and a half yrs
@Omar Ali: "PMLN ruling for 25 years?" Really???
My little knowledge of history tells me this is not true for Past 25 years..........but if you are referring to Future 25 years there may be a lot of weight in that agrument based on the work carried out by PMLN !!!
@NP I would have to agree with you. Aitchson was not called "Chief" college for no reason.
Shamim khan himself lacks merits as he is occupying the seat of principal after crossing superannuation. There is no one else in the whole of Pakistan to be appointed as Pincipal if that the case advertisement should have been made in international papers to find a suitable principal but re employing a man who has retired doesn't seem justified. Also this speaks volume about the character and integrity of a person who has accepted to be in seat again after his retirement. One can well expect the sort of character building from a characterless principal.
Good decision. This will help reducing "elite culture" in our society.
This is such a poorly written piece. First of all admission was never granted purely on sources, everyone had to go trough an admission test/process after which kinship played a role in securing a spot.
In no way is it okay to rejoice in the fact that 6 year old relatives of former/present government personalities were not granted admission. Just because someone happens to me person X's nephew does not mean that the child did not rigorously prepared for the entrance exam. In addition to highlight those children by name in a newspaper is pretty low!
NP is the smartest kid on the block!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dislike and abhor the practice of admitting children to early school education based on admission tests. The purpose of the school is to make an art of inexplicable beauty out of clay.
Admission tests at college level serve different purpose-to select those that meet the minimum criteria of comprehension for success in college curricula.
at least one good step forward
at last one good step forward to keep the merit alive
Dair aye darust Ayeeee... Finally shamim Khan has taken right decision of taking kids on merit and abolished quota system... Finally merit children can prove their worth instead of those bigshots kids with empty minds and lack of manners and norms. I'm proud of u shamim Khan. Allah bless u !
@LHR This institution makes it own decision and is not influenced by an government. Kindly, check your facts. PML(N) is ruling Punjab since 25 years, why it took 25 years for them to implement this ??
so under which Government this CHANGE happened?
Well speaking of merit let's first check the merit of selection of Aitchison College's Principal Shamim S.Khan.......he has served for 10 years earlier n what was he upto then????.... Does he mean he too was dishonest in admitting the deserving students???? In a country of 200 million population can't the Government of Pakistan and the board members of Aitchison find ONE single man who is not a racist and has some better values???......does Shamim Khan even realizes what havoc and disturbance he created when exact 3months before the admission tests last year he changed the age policy for the boys.....how could 5 year old boys appear for K2 or 6 year old boys appear for K3????....here we are talking about innocent, young boys and not some Einsteins!!! As was expected more than half of the boys failed to clear the test.....n were deprived from their right of education in this prestigious institution because of some nonsense policy......isn't that unfair and cruel to the young minds???.....this year too the number of seats was reduced to 74 so what do u want to do with the empty classrooms Mr. Principal??? Shame on you Shamim S. Khan.....
What about age difference as 50% selected kids are over age even more then 7 years compare to 6 year old kid.
@Aalia: Merit was always followed at Aitchison, but there was a quota for the old Aitchisonians' children. Only that has been abolished. Moreover former principal Faqir Ejaz caused irreparable damage to the school. It had to be corrected.
No appreciation to PMLN for allowing it to happen?
Great Change. Waiting to hear credits/blames to be put on PTI for that?
@Aalia: Can't you appreciate the new development?
Better be careful now Mr Principle.
To think that the most reputable college in Pakistan officially has reserved seats for kin of influential people. The mind boggles. Anyhow, dair aye durust aye.
good news ..merit and merit only
Well done. But Karachi Grammar was doing this from the very outset: they test everyone including the Prime Ministers (Z A Bhutto) children.
Now Atchison has reached level of KGS. It's a good achievement.
Historically this institution was of the elite, by the elite, and for the elite. Since last two centuries it has produced a differnet class of people that has ruled over us. Not sure how common people will afford its expenses.
Pointless and stupid. The reason people clamour to send their children to places like Aitchison College is for the social contacts their children will gain. What is the point of sending your kid to Aitchison if the very social contacts they seek are gone. Otherwise there are dozens of schools that will give you an education that is as good or better than AC.
All these days with all the name and fame, it is hard to believe why it abolishes something that was working
Not exactly as most of the people that have really shone in their adult lives have come from that institution@Aalia:
Good. Admission should only be based on merit.
For more than hundred years this institute was murdering merit?
This is a good news...only on merit...that`s right, only on merit...
Lovely..... Keep it up.....
Well done.. Great Move !!