Non-recognition of degree: Uncertain future brings ‘graduates’ on the road

Despite completing 5-year course, PVMC is yet to recognise their degrees.

RAWALPINDI:

Even after five years of hard work and investment, the students of veterinary medicines department of Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University (PMASAAU) may not get a degree.

This fear compelled the ‘graduates’ to flock to the Benazir Bhutto formerly Murree Road to protest against the non-recognition of their degrees by Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC).

As many as 44 students were declared successful in the five year’s programme but the degree-awarding institute of the university could not obtain accreditation from PVMC creating uncertainty about the future of the students.

The students, who had gathered at the busiest road of the garrison city, carrying banners and placards, demanded immediate accreditation of their degrees by PVMC. They said that the university had fulfilled all the requirements for the recognition of the veterinary medicines degrees.

The vets are required to get licence before starting their medical practice from PVMC and the council only issues certificates to the veterinary doctors who had degrees accredited from the council.

“The university administration had made it clear to us that they had fulfilled all the necessary requirements from the PVMC for accreditation of the degree,” said a protesting student while talking to The Express Tribune. “We are protesting against the council’s decision as some elements in the PVMC are not ready to extend the accreditation to the graduates.

We are the first batch that had passed the degree and there are more students studying in the university whose uncertain future awaits them, he added. The 44 graduates include eight girls.

Later, in the day the protesting students went to the office of PVMC at I-8 in Islamabad and staged a sit-in outside the offices of the council.

During their protest, an official of Inter-Provincial Coordination for veterinary assured the students that a meeting of the representatives of PVMC, AAU and the graduates would be held on Monday to resolve the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2011.