BNU convocation: Uniform education policy need of the hour, says Rajwana

The governor resents that Chancellors’ Committee has not met since 2006

LAHORE:

“Beaconhouse graduates should help those who cannot afford education. Educating children is the responsibility of every educated citizen,” Governor Rafique Rajwana said on Friday.

He was speaking at the 10th Convocation of the Beaconhouse National University (BNU) at its Tarogil Campus.

“Islam gives the message of humanity. It calls for helping others. The graduating students and their parents should help those who cannot afford education,” the governor said.Rajwana said the graduating students should never forget the efforts made by parents for their education. “The students who received gold medals today should be thankful to their parents for enabling them to receive higher education,” he said.

The governor said he favoured a uniform policy on education for the entire country. “The Chancellors’ Committee and the prime minister should play their role in this regard. I want the committee to meet for policymaking. It is a matter of concern that it has not held a meeting since 2006,” Rajwana said. He said a meeting had been scheduled for the next month.Vice Chancellor Shahid Hafiz Kardar said that the graduating students owed their success to their parents and teachers. He said the BNU considered its faculty members its most prized asset.

“As you walk from the protected environment of your alma mater into the impersonal arena of the professional world, approach the challenge thrown at you with the confidence and values that your mentors and teachers have imparted to you,” Kardar said.

“While you are executing your assignments, don’t forget the sense of responsibility that we instilled in you. While you are playing your rightful roles as professionals, don’t forget the kindness and compassion which we fostered among you. You are ambassadors, of BNU, of Pakistan and of humanity.”

Board of Governors chairperson Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri said that the role of education institutions was not limited to imparting knowledge in a specific field.

She said that educational institutions held great social and civic responsibility to bring about a change in society. She advised the students to be steadfast to face the challenges of professional life.

Earlier, Rajwana distributed gold medals among top graduates. As many as 17 graduates received the medals this year. A total of 424 students were awarded degrees – 149 received graduate degrees and 275 undergraduate degrees. These include 81 graduates from the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design, 37 from the Razia Hassan School of Architecture, 49 from the Seeta Majeed School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, 100 from the School of Media and Mass Communication, 68 from the School of Computer and IT, 47 from the Institute of Psychology and 42 from the School of Education.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2015.