‘True gentlemen’: Governor vows to revive Aitchison College to former glory

‘Smoking on campus, mobile phones in classrooms not allowed’.

LAHORE:

Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood has pledged to “restore the glory and dignity of Aitchison College” and raise the standard of education and teaching at the prestigious institution, according to a press release.

The governor recently set up a new board of governors for the college, cutting it down in size from 21 members to five, and also reappointed Shamim Saifullah Khan as principal, a post he had occupied from 1994 to 2008.

At the first informal meeting of the new board here on Saturday, the governor said that the standard of education and teaching at the school must be raised, and faculty appointments and students admissions be made purely on merit.

The school must produce not just good students, but also principled human beings, he said.

The participants in the meeting agreed that the academic standards at the institution must be raised and a policy of merit adhered to strictly, said the press release. The appointment of faculty would be made transparent. The teachers must be top class as well as affordable. It was their responsibility to teach students good etiquette, which was the foundation of a true gentleman.

It was agreed at the meeting that regular student attendance must be ensured, and smoking on campus and the use of mobile phones in classrooms be banned. It was also suggested that an endowment fund be set up for poor students with the support of alumni.

Principal Shamim Khan; Vice Principal Iftikhar Ahmed Malik; board members Syed Babar Ali, Sardar Yar Muhammad Jamali, Justice Yahya Afridi, Yawar Badar and Maj Gen Sahibzada Isfandiyar Pataudi; Higher Education Secretary Ijaz Munir; Finance Secretary Tariq Bajwa; and Brig Mujahid Hussain, Acting General Officer Commanding of 10 Division, also attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.