State of college education

Education

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

There has been one positive outcome of the so-called college denationalization debate that has raged ever since the Sindh government announced its decision to “transfer” the St Joseph’s and St Patrick’s colleges to their original owners. Public attention has been focused on the state of college education in the country.

Given the unrealistic nature of some of the claims and allegations made by the parties, which are resisting the transfer of these colleges, it is important to put the issue in correct perspective. The arguments advanced by the critics of denationalization are:
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Denationalization controversy

Economy, Education

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

There is much speculation these days about the impending change in the status of the St Joseph’s and the St Patrick’s Colleges in Karachi. The Sindh government’s move to “retransfer” or “denationalize” these colleges has angered the teachers’ community and their association has launched a protest movement.

Given the state of college education – in fact the entire education sector – in the country it is important that the issue be discussed dispassionately and objectively in all sections who feel concern for the future of the younger generation.
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Where political parties failed

Politics

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

The Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, Mr Hashim Abdul Halim, who is also acting chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, had a brief stopover in Karachi on his way to Islamabad.

He is a suave man, a competent parliamentarian and has been the Speaker for 23 years. He says he wants to step down and resume his legal ractice but his party, the CPI-M, would not let him go. The party itself has been in power in Kolkata for 24 years.
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Afghan women’s new role

Women

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

The process of change in Afghanistan is so subtle and the violence so pervasive that not many seem to have noticed the fact that the Afghan women are slowly emerging from the oblivion and coming into their own. According to one report nearly 40 per cent of the voters who have registered themselves for the October presidential elections are women.

That is an impressive figure given the fact that until recently women were not even allowed out of their homes, because of the obscurantist policies of the Taliban who were ruling the roost in Kabul until the end of 2001.
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Complexities of population issue

Population, Social Issues

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

The world population day was observed on July 11 and all the leaders involved with the population programme in Pakistan one way or the other expressed their concern at the country’s demographic profile on this occasion. The official voices which were raised this year were somewhat louder than before.

The president sent a message calling for a balance between population and resources. More importantly, he emphasized a close link between population and the social development of the people especially in the areas of health, education and women’s development.
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