22.09.2013 Limiting education
Public universities in the country don’t give admission beyond a certain age that discourage applicants with session gap
By Sher Ali Khalti
Miss a year at college or university and you miss the opportunity to get into one ever again. The doors of universities in Pakistan close to students who have a session gap or who have turned 25-year-old before admissions to universities open.
Result of graduation has been announced throughout Pakistan and students are enthusiastic to enter in relevant educational institutions but there is no opening for those who have crossed the 25 years age mark. It is printed in every public university’s prospectus and was clearly advertised as well.
Those who have no finance to get education now, after 3 or 4 years if they become able enough to afford education they will not be allowed to apply for admission in public universities and their affiliated colleges.
The literacy rate of Pakistan is 58 percent which is not good to live in the 21st century and only 16 percent are going to take admission in universities. Most of the people don’t even knock the door of universities due to poverty but those who do, must get an opportunity to study. This calls for declaring emergency in public universities as well.
Muhammad Anwar Sajid, Registrar University of the Punjab, says preference will be given to fresh graduates if they seek admission in Bachelor and Master Degree Programme. Although there is 2-year relaxation for male and 3 years for female candidates, those who fail to get admission can apply on self-support programme.
Director Admission Committee student’s affairs of Azad Jammu and Kashmir says, “We have set criteria for admission. After 22 years no student can be enrolled in BSc and if the candidate touches his 26 birthday he will not be given admission in Master programme. There is no space for students who are overage and have session gap. The government should provide more land and buildings for students because population has increased and in the given structure only as much as can be accommodated.”
He considers the present admission policy oppressive — prohibiting people from seeking knowledge.
He says one can get education at any time and state should facilitate people in the pursuit of education. There is no concept of age and session gap in learning of human beings in the developed countries. We need to create equal opportunity and we have a long way to go.
Deputy Registrar Farhat Safdar from Sardar Bahadur Khan University Balochistan told TNS that she is not aware of age and session gap because the university does not come across such cases. Balochistan is a backward province and people are poor so majority of the graduates don’t get education in Master’s programme. “We have opened the door to everyone.”
Lahore College for Women University doesn’t give admission in BS 4 years programme if the applicant is more than 22 years old. “If a student wants to get admission in MS or PhD, age and session gap don’t matter,” says the Deputy Registrar of LCWU, Shahid Jameel.
Universities in the west have a different concept. Correspondence with some top of the line universities revealed that age and session gap are no issues there.
Harward and Cambridge University see years spent in work after graduation or pursuit of one’s career as no limitation to their programs.
Oxford University puts no age limit to any of their programmes of study. “We find that students are more frequently working for a number of years before undertaking graduate studies, however you might like to discuss your situation and your application with the department before applying, to ensure that you do have necessary background to undertake our programme,’’ was the reply from Oxford University.
Even in an African university — Obafemi Awolowo University Nigeria, a 74-year-old man got admission. Some universities take their own tests along with taking grades under consideration.
An intellectual, senior journalist and columnist Khawaja Jamshaid Imam Butt says this policy was introduced during Gen Ziaul Haq’s reign to eliminate influence of students’ federations. It was necessary for Zia to keep the youth away from politics.
Butt says first word of revelation is “Iqra” which means “read”, Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was taught at the age of 40. “Why are his followers being stopped from getting education,” he questions. “According to 1973 Constitution no law or policy can be drafted in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which is contradictory to the Quran and Sunnah. Denial of admission on the basis of age or session gap goes against them. It is a violation of the fundamental right to get education.”
“You would be surprise I got admission at MAO Post Graduate College affiliated with Punjab University at the age of 48 and got my degree when I was 50 years old just 2 years ago. I got admission on the call of HEC secretary Ahad Cheema to chairman mass communication department MAO College. We are living in class-based society where law is only for the fragile.
Member of National Assembly Muhammad Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha from Sargodha sees the age bar/session gap policy as a hurdle in getting higher education. “I condemn this policy of admission. Every citizen has the right to get education any time. He promised to do something to change the government policy regarding this matter.”
Shahzad Roy, a famous singer, social worker who has a lot of contribution in the field of education says, “Everyone has the right to seek the light of education. It gives the opportunity to look outside the window, the door to knowledge should never shut at any cost.’’ He demands from the government an end to age and session gap policy. “I will launch a programme against this discriminatory policy which has become a hurdle in the way of education,” he says.
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