Court summons Punjab education officials
Online registration forms for students challenged.
RAWALPINDI:
A court summoned education officials after private students challenged a notification by the education board that made it necessary for students to complete their registration online.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Monday asked the Secretary Higher Education Punjab and Chairman Intermediate and Secondary Education Rawalpindi to appear before the court on December 22.
Private students of class 9 and 10 filed a writ petition through the Private Schools Association challenging the notification issued by the Secretary Higher Education on November 25 this year.
The legal counsel of the petitioner, Raila Sabooi, told the court that the Punjab education department had made online registration of candidates of class 9 and 10 compulsory for those appearing in examinations 2010-11.
She maintained that it was very difficult for the students to send their admission forms through the internet in a timely manner on short notice.
“These students do not know how to send their admission forms through the online system. They should be given the necessary training first,” she told the court.
The education board of Rawalpindi had given December 19 as the last date for appearing in exams, but later extended the date till December 30. “Even then, the students will not be in a position to send their admission form through online system,” Sabooi said.
The legal counsel of the petitioner further said that it was difficult for private candidates from remote areas to access the internet and get themselves registered online. Apart from that, slow speed of internet and unavailability of electricity in different areas of the city made it difficult for people to complete the entire process. Furthermore, candidates of remote areas were now forced to come to urban centres for registration.
“If the students are not allowed to send their admission form through the ordinary way, the future of thousands of students would be at stake,” Sabooi told the court.
According to the legal counsel, the students requested the Secretary Education Punjab, Chairman Intermediate Board Rawalpindi and Controller Examination Rawalpindi, several times, to review this notification, but they refused to listen.
She asked the court to direct these officials to allow the students to send their admission forms the regular way and accept their admission forms.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2010.
A court summoned education officials after private students challenged a notification by the education board that made it necessary for students to complete their registration online.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Monday asked the Secretary Higher Education Punjab and Chairman Intermediate and Secondary Education Rawalpindi to appear before the court on December 22.
Private students of class 9 and 10 filed a writ petition through the Private Schools Association challenging the notification issued by the Secretary Higher Education on November 25 this year.
The legal counsel of the petitioner, Raila Sabooi, told the court that the Punjab education department had made online registration of candidates of class 9 and 10 compulsory for those appearing in examinations 2010-11.
She maintained that it was very difficult for the students to send their admission forms through the internet in a timely manner on short notice.
“These students do not know how to send their admission forms through the online system. They should be given the necessary training first,” she told the court.
The education board of Rawalpindi had given December 19 as the last date for appearing in exams, but later extended the date till December 30. “Even then, the students will not be in a position to send their admission form through online system,” Sabooi said.
The legal counsel of the petitioner further said that it was difficult for private candidates from remote areas to access the internet and get themselves registered online. Apart from that, slow speed of internet and unavailability of electricity in different areas of the city made it difficult for people to complete the entire process. Furthermore, candidates of remote areas were now forced to come to urban centres for registration.
“If the students are not allowed to send their admission form through the ordinary way, the future of thousands of students would be at stake,” Sabooi told the court.
According to the legal counsel, the students requested the Secretary Education Punjab, Chairman Intermediate Board Rawalpindi and Controller Examination Rawalpindi, several times, to review this notification, but they refused to listen.
She asked the court to direct these officials to allow the students to send their admission forms the regular way and accept their admission forms.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2010.