Student Policies and GC University
Lahore, May 10: Despite having produced hundreds of thousands of well-educated students and grooming some of the country's top minds, the GC University – or Government College Lahore, as it is known to the many nostalgic Old Ravians across the world – is on a downward spiral, both in terms of its repute as well as its treatment of Ravians, who have the 'misfortune' of being currently enrolled at the varsity.
Who could have guessed that the torchbearers of the country's future – the students currently enrolled there – would be forced to hold demonstrations and protests on the roads just to get their voices heard and safeguard their right to appear for their exams.
Surely, it is incidents such as these which tarnish not only the institution's repute, but also the memory of all those who grown up under its shadow. Indeed, GCU is very proud of its alumni. Men of great stature, from Allama Iqbal to Faiz Ahmed Faiz, from NM Rashid to Patras Bukhari and, of course, Dr Abdus Salam, who are often touted as 'shining examples' of GCU's traditional commitment to excellence, would have no doubt opposed the attitude being adopted by the current administration. Recent protests by Ravians and their parents across the city have also taken their toll on the entire education sector, and many students feel disheartened. They have also called attention to what many are calling the varsity's 'anti-student' policies. GCU has been serving the country and educating young minds since its inception in 1876. However, most alumni are now openly criticising their alma mater in the wake of the conflict between the GCU administration and its students.
It is understood that the rules and regulations of any institution are aimed at the welfare of its students, but these 'rules and regulations' should not waste both the potential that the country's youth possesses or the money that has been invested by the students' parents. The GCU administration has stood its ground, saying that it was justified in its decision regarding the 88 students who were declared ineligible to appear for their exams because they did not have the required attendance. However, the administration cannot be excused for failing to inform the students and their parents of the criteria that had been set for considering one's eligibility. It is not fair to inform students that they cannot sit in their exams a week before the said exams are set to begin.
It should be noted that it is not the first time we have seen protests against GCU's "unfair attitude". There have been incidents in the past where the civil society and even lawyers have protested against the varsity's policies. But instead of improving its policies, the administration has turned a deaf ear to any and all criticism hurled its way and has decided that it will not compromise on its stance. This stubbornness inevitably led to the Lahore High Court suspending its order directed the Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (BISE) to issue the roll number slips of the 88 students.
Siding with students: Several GCU teachers have said they are in favour of providing relief to the students, as their futures were too valuable to be toyed with in such a manner. They added that the administration should have informed the students and their parents about the policies on time and not on the eve of their exams, so that the students at least had the option to send their admissions as private candidates. The teachers said that merit, discipline and student-friendly policies had been the foundations of the GCU, adding the administrations decision to deviate from these beliefs was to blame for the protests being seen across the city. They said it was true that GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Aftab Ahmad was struggling to upgrade the statues of the GCU and that he had taken various steps in the past for the institutions academic development, but the last three years has seen the VC taking on one too many challenges, which was not helped by the fact that he was being misguided by an "influential personality". They could only express grief at seeing their beloved GCU, one of the best institutions in the country, being highlighted in the news for all the wrong reasons, with the government opting to stay silent on the matter.
The administration desperately needs to stick to its old traditions since it is the only way it can restore some of the prestige lost in this latest fiasco. Being Ravians themselves, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif are in the best possible position to ensure that the future of these students is not jeopardised by the policies of the institute.
