Punjab University (PU) announces result: Girls beat boys in BA/BSc exams

* Passing percentage drops to 24.67 percent from 26.68 percent last year
* Cash rewards of Rs 400,000 for 1st position, Rs 275,00 for 2nd position and Rs 240,000 for 3rd position holders
* Supplementary exams due in October

By Adnan Lodhi

LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) announced the results of its Bachelors of Arts/Bachelors of Science (BA/BSc) Annual Examinations 2008 on Saturday and declared 24.67 percent of students as successful. Last year’s passing percentage was 26.68.

Around 172,888 students appeared in the examinations across Punjab, of which 42,653 candidates successfully passed.

BSc position holders: Mahwish Nadeem of Leadership College, Khadim Ali Road, Sialkot, grabbed the first position (overall) in the BSc exam by securing 665 out of 800 marks.

Wajeeha Sundas of Post Graduate College for Women, Satellite Town, Rawalpindi, and Saba Shehzadi of Ibn-e-Ameer Government College for Women, Jalalpur Jattan, shared the second position in BSc with 657 marks, while Usman Rafi of Government Municipal Degree College, Faisalabad, secured third position with 640 marks.

BA position holders: Sheikh Muhammad Umar Farooq, a private candidate from Shahdara, got first position in BA with 642 marks, followed by Sharmeen Azher of Govt Degree College for Women, Chakwal, who got 628 marks.

Shaista Mehtab, an external candidate from Rawalpindi, and Ayeasha Tariq of Government College for Women, Shakargarh, Narowal, shared the third position with 623 marks.

Rewards: The PU authorities have announced rewards of Rs 100,000 for students securing first positions, Rs 75,000 for students securing second positions, and Rs 65,000 for students getting third positions. The authorities have also announced free education and accommodation for all position holders if they apply for admission at PU.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also announced cash prizes of Rs 300,000 for students securing first positions, Rs 200,000 for those securing second positions, and Rs 175,000 for students getting third positions.

PU Controller Zahid Karim Khan, while announcing the result, presented a brief report on the examination system of the university. He praised the PU employees concerned for announcing the result within three months of the end of the exams.

Supplementary examination: The BA/BSc Supplementary Examination 2008 will be held in the third week of October. The authorities concerned will receive admission forms until September.

The BA/BSc Annual Examination 2009 will be held in March, for which admission forms will be accepted until October 25, 2008.

Mahwish Nadeem

I want to do my masters in Mathematics, said Mahwish, who secured first position in the examination. I have not yet decided what I will do after my masters. I believe the standard of education in Pakistan is good, but it needs further development. I think extremists are damaging the reputation of the country in the world. The credit for my success goes to my parents and teachers.

Wajeeha Sundas

I also want to do my masters in Mathematics and become a professor, said Wajeeha, who got second position in the BSc exam. I am against the rote-learning system. The country’s examination system should be developed according to modern demands. Extremists are those of our society who have not been given their due rights. The government should help the poor because poverty is the root cause of terrorism.

Saba Shahzadi

I want to do my masters in Physics and become a professor, said Saba, who shared the second position in the BSc exam. Pakistan’s examination system and curriculum needs to be upgraded in line with global standards. Acts of terrorism have disturbed the whole country and claimed hundreds of innocent lives. I have succeeded in the exams due to the prayers of my parents and teachers.

Usman Rafi

I want to do electrical engineering, said Usman, who secured the third position in the BSc exam. The country’s examination system should be upgraded and changes should be made in the curriculum, because other countries have also done the same. Acts of extremism and terrorism have brought a stigma to Pakistan. The people responsible for such acts should be taken to task and radicalism should be rooted out.

M Umar Farooq

I want to do my masters in business administration (MBA), said Umar, who got first position in the BA exam. I have appeared as a private candidate, but took tuition for the exam. Pakistan should be free from terrorism and extremism, and politicians should work for the welfare of the country. God’s blessings, prayers of my parents and hard work are the reasons for my success.

Sharmeen Azher

I want to do my masters in English and become a teacher, said Sharmeen, who came second in the BA exam. There are several flaws in the education system of Pakistan, which can be resolved by developing the system. There is a need to produce qualified teachers to uplift the standard of education. The major problems, like extremism and terrorism that our country is facing should be solved without delay.

Shaista Mehtab

I want to get a degree in calligraphy and earn a good name in that profession, said Shaista, who secured third position in the BA exam. Education in Pakistan is expensive and the poor segments of society cannot afford quality education. The government should make quality education accessible to the poor to elevate the literacy rate. Terrorism should be rooted out from the country.

Ayesha Tariq

I want to do my PhD and become a professor, said Ayesha, who shared the third position in the BA exam. The double standard of education in Pakistan should be abolished, because the poor cannot afford to approach English-medium institutes. Extremists are damaging the reputation of Islam. Our religion has always promoted peace and taught the principles of morality. There is no place for extremism in our religion.


Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk