20000227

Zaidi proposes

degree courses

of four years

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Dr Zafar H Zaidi vice chancellor of the University of Karachi, on Saturday proposed to extend the duration of degree courses from two years to four years.

He was delivering address of welcome on the occasion of Convocation -- 2000 held at the Valika Cricket Ground, University of Karachi.

He said in the developed world the duration of degree courses is four years, whereas in Pakistan the graduation level is completed in two years.

Dr. Zaidi said as a result of this short duration of degree courses, the students having degrees of MA or Msc are not treated at par with other students in the world.

He said an exercise was done to restructure degree courses, but politicisation of the proposal did not allow the extention in the period for a bachelor degree.

The VC said, "If we want in earnest to be at par with other graduates of the world, extended duration for a degree course merits consideration."

He said the biggest drawback with the education system in Pakistan is that parents from the very beginning start compelling students to specialize in a particular subject.

"While a student is in matric, he is asked to chose from commerce, general, science and arts groups. And in intermediate, the student is forced to chose pre-medical or pre-engineering," Dr. Zaidi said.

He said it would be in the greater interest to discuss the problem threadbare and reach a conclusion.