Proposals for peace, tolerance in universities submitted to PHEC

LAHORE

Punjab Higher Education Commission’s Working Group on Promotion of Peace and Tolerance at the University Campuses has prepared a consolidated report on the basis of the recommendations of the recent two-day conference.

The 34-point report recommends active involvement of students in various co-curricular activities, no exclusion and marginalisation on the basis of ideology/race/ language/gender, respecting divergence of opinion and expression of thoughts through holding dialogue, promotion of social sciences, addressing structural problems i.e. curriculum by incorporating content related to peace, tolerance, volunteerism and civic education. The report also recommends establishment of student service centres and psychological counseling centres, revision of curriculum of Islamic Studies and Pak-Studies, continuous faculty training, professionalism, de-politicisation and an early identification of students at risk and undertaking special steps for creating employment opportunities for the university graduates.

PHEC Working Group convener Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam, who is also VC of the University of Education, said the recommendations had been submitted to PHEC formally for further deliberations and follow-up. He termed the report a great milestone towards preparing a road map for promoting values of peace, tolerance at university campuses.

The report further recommends bridging the gap between policy-makers and stakeholders, creating an alternative narrative instead of overe-mphasising counter-narrative, and stopping involvement of external groups/parties by ensuring autonomy of the universities. 

The report also emphasises promotion of book reading culture through organising literary activities and book festivals, effective implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) at all levels, organising intra-university festivals and competitions, neutral and unbiased role of VCs and administration, undertaking community out-reach programme through university magazines, newsletters and campus radio, conducting a  survey on students to assess their perceptions related to peace and tolerance and their expectations from institutions of higher education.

The Working Group’s report also recommends establishment of Social Incubation Centres at the university campuses where the social scientists can provide innovative solutions to various societal issues, well maintenance of the university playgrounds, gyms and swimming, provision of funding by Punjab HEC for seminars/conferences, workshops and other related activities on the topics related to extremism, violence, peace and tolerance. 

The report also demands that there is a dire need to conduct in-depth studies on the incidents of violence on campuses as the case studies to investigate and learn causes and triggers. The recent incident at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, can be one example.

Commenting on the report, PHEC Chairperson Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin said intolerance, violence and extremism were very serious issues which required immediate attention and structural solutions. He emphasised on strengthening and reviving student societies to engage them in positive campus-based activities. He said PHEC would take the stakeholders on board for effective implementation of the recommendations. 

new universities: Provincial Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Kh. Salman Rafiq and Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Kh. Imran Nazir have lauded setting up of three new medical universities in Punjab and said that thee universities would prove a milestone in promoting medical education in Punjab.

According to a handout on Saturday, Kh. Salman Rafiq in a statement said that by establishing Nishtar Medical University, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had fulfilled the longstanding demand of the people of southern Punjab. He said that in the history of Punjab, there was no precedent of so many concrete steps which were taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the promotion of medical education, provision of quality healthcare facilities and health sector development. He said that new medical universities, medical colleges, new hospitals and specialised healthcare institutions which had been constructed during the present regime were a unique example of development. 

Salman Rafiq said that Rawalpindi Medical College and Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, were playing an effective role in promoting medical education and hoped that after getting the status of medical universities, the institutions would further enhance their role in medical education, research and producing highly qualified professionals. Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Kh. Imran Nazir said that establishment of the four medical colleges and five medical universities in a short period of time was a proof of the chief minister’s passion for strengthening medical profession and promotion of medical education. He said the chief minister wanted to provide healthcare facilities and medical services of qualified and trained health professionals on the doorsteps of the people of Punjab and the new medical universities would play an effective role in it.

Seminar: An awareness seminar on hygiene and a walk in connection with World Hand Hygiene Day were organised in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to disseminate knowledge about the importance of hygiene among health providers of the hospital.

According to a handout issued here on Saturday, a large number of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff attended the seminar. Public health experts and Turkish doctors including Dr. Mehmat delivered lectures on the topic.

Fatima Jinnah Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sardar Fakhar Imam and MS SGRH Dr. Nauman Matloob said that effective infection control and appropriate management of hospital waste could reduce the stay period of the patients in the hospital which would also help minimise the bed occupancy rate.