The Punjab government has moved to cancel the admission of 42 of the 90 students admitted to the province’s public sector medical colleges on seats reserved for foreign pupils in violation of rules and regulations.

According to sources, the provincial government on March 4 issued a notification, cancelling the nominations on the basis of which the 42 students were granted admissions.

The sources said 118 pupils had been admitted to the medical colleges against 151 seats meant for foreign students on the basis of nominations made by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and Higher Education Commission (HEC). After investigating the scam, the provincial government found that 90 of the admissions were granted in violation of rules and regulations.

According to the sources, 48 of the 90 students, who should have taken either the entrance test or presented their scores of Scholastic Aptitude Test Part11 but didn’t, have been given a chance to retain their seats. They have now been told that they would have to pass the SAT Part-11 examination, scheduled to be given on May 7, otherwise their admissions would be cancelled.

A girl student — who was admitted to Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, even though she didn’t bear a premedical intermediate certificate but rather a pre-engineering certificate — is among the 42 students whose nominations have been cancelled.

The committee set up by the Punjab chief minister that looked into the episode and proposed the corrective measures comprised Senator Ishaq Dar (convener), Justice (retd) Aamer Raza Khan, secretaries of the health and planning divisions and vice-chancellor of the University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

The notification (no SO (ME) 9-2/2010-11) dated March 4 says: “Nominations of all those candidates who do not fulfill the eligibility criteria, as prescribed in the prospectus, may be cancelled and concerned agencies may be asked to make fresh nominations strictly in accordance with the parameters laid down in the prospectus for session 2010-2011.” The notification further said the nominated candidates who did not take the entrance test or passed SAT-II examination with requisite scores, could be provisionally admitted and asked to clear SAT-II examination on May 7.

“(The) EAD and the HEC may be asked to ensure, in future, that applications fulfill all conditions laid down in the prospectus before nominating them for admission in public sector medical and dental colleges of the Punjab. It must be made abundantly clear to the EAD and HEC that admission board for medical/dental institutions of Punjab will not entertain any candidate who does not fulfill basic minimum requirements stipulated in the prospectus for admission in a session,” the notification said.

The provincial government asked the EAD to follow the same criteria for the students from Indian-held Kashmir for admission to the medical colleges against seats for foreign students. Earlier, the students from Indian-held Kashmir had been exempted from sitting the tests.

The notification said the chairman of the admission board would be held responsible for implementation of the admission policy.

“In case a nominated candidate is found ineligible for any institution, the nominating agency may be informed promptly by the head of the institution so that suitable replacement can be made timely,” the notification added.

 

Source: Dawn News