Breaking traditions: Aitchison College abolishes 'quota' system

25 relatives of VVIPs, the likes of the Sharifs and Taseers, denied admission in the prestigious school.

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.