FJWU Convocation: Graduation, for some the fruit of a life-long struggle

Over 1,000 students conferred degrees during the university’s 11th convocation.

ISLAMABAD:

All his life, Jamshed Ahmed has been working dead-end jobs and wondering if it was even worth it? On Wednesday he got his answer. The day-labourer from Hafizabad saw his oldest daughter, Madiha Sehar, graduate from Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU).

“For us it is not just a degree but the reward of a life-long of hard work,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune during the university’s 11th convocation ceremony held at the Jinnah Convention Centre.

Ahmed is the sole bread earner of his family of nine, having five daughters and two sons. Ahmed, a labourer at a supermarket, said he keeps searching for work to afford his children’s schooling.

His daughter, Sehar, who completed her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) said due to financial constraints it was very difficult for her to bear the educational and living expenses, “but we managed. Now I am planning to do a job along my M. Phil to support my family financially,” she said.

A total of 1,023 students were awarded degrees in the convocation ceremony. Governor Punjab and FJWU Chancellor Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa, along with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Samina Amin Qadir awarded 30 gold and 29 silver medals to students from each department to acknowledge their outstanding performance. One M. Phil and two PhD degrees were awarded by the university for the first time, while masters and bachelors degrees in various disciplines were awarded to 647 and 373 students respectively.

“When I used to see bundle of notes and the lengthy thesis, I felt that I would not be able to complete my PhD,” said Dr Fareed Faisal, who received a PhD degree from the university at the ceremony. “Many students who enrolled with me for this course quitted for various reasons. I used to dream of this day, and it will remain one of the most memorable days of my life,” he added.

Anam Sarah and Brekhna Ajmal won a gold medal and silver medal respectively in Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Both had come all the way from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to study at the university.

“It is true that the area from where we belong to is conservative but we did not face any problem from our family. Media has played an extensive role in changing the mindsets of people there, who are now sending their daughters and sisters to other cities to get education,” said Sarah while talking to The Express Tribune.

Addressing the participants, Governor Punjab Latif Khosa said, “The years of toil and labour in pursuit of intellectual excellence has brought you today to the gateway of your future dreams. You represent the future of Pakistan and Pakistan has high expectations from you.”

He said inspite of great developmental strides, there has been widespread increase in unemployment in the country. “This unemployment among the degree-holders of the universities illustrates the deficiencies of the educational system,” he added.

The FJWU Vice Chancellor also congratulated students and wished them success on their future endeavours.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2011.