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Monday, January 23, 2017
Monday, April 4, 2016
SADIQ TECHNOTHON 2016
Check out our huge photo album from the Sadiq Technothon 2016:
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Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Principal Prof Nauman Ahmad Qureshi Visited BCU, UK.
Sadiq Public School Bahawalpur and Birmingham City University, UK have
agreed to a potential partnership. Principal Sadiq Public School
Bahawalpur Prof Nauman Ahmad Qureshi while talking to APP told that he
was invited to visit Birmingham City University UK by the International
Office of the university where in a meeting with Director International
Office Mr John Kirk it was decided that passing out students of Sadiq
Public School will be given admissions in different faculties of the
university. He told that partnership will also include teacher exchange
and teacher training programs. He said that Miss Maggie Wootton Head of
Partnerships Team and Shaaf Tauqeer Regional Manager Middle East, North
Africa and Pakistan were also present at the meeting. He told that he
also had a meeting with Mr Parmjit Chima Head of School of Engineering,
Design and Manufacturing Systems as majority of the school students are
interested in mechanical engineering program of the university. He told
that Mr Parmjit Chima showed him various sections of his faculty
including the manufacturing of Formula One cars by university students.
He told that he also met Professor Cliff Allan Pro Vice-Chancellor of
the university and discussed various aspects of potential partnership.
He told that Shaaf Tauqeer Regional Manager Middle East, North Africa
and Pakistan and Mr Rob Hurlbutt Regional Manager for South Asia gave
him tour of the university campuses. He said that under the partnership,
school students will attend Summer School at Birmingham City University
every year and a delegation of 12 students and 2 teachers will visit
Birmingham City University on July 12 to attend this year’s Summer
School. He appreciated the efforts of Old Sadiqians Shaaf Tauqeer
Regional Manager Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan and Muhammad Ali
Zamir Project Coordinator SPS-BCU Partnership for their role in
developing this partnership.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Students Visit Cocoa Boutique
It was the most exciting day as the students visited Cocoa Boutique -
Malaysia's largest chocolate paradise and Genting Highlands which are
located at the height of more than 6000 ft. above the sea level. The
most joyful thing was to visit the world's largest hotel, First World
Hotel at Genting Highlands. It has 30 counters and 7354 rooms to
accomodate the customers and visitors. It offered the students a variety
of activities to amuse themselves in Snow World, Haunted Adventure
Ride, Psycho Circus at the Hotel, shopping and a ride on cable cars. In
the evening, the students visited the temple of Batu Cave and Murugan
Statue. The dinner was arranged at BBQ.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Private Schools: The truth and untold story
By Kashif Mirza
I would like to address the independent Pakistani media, which has the capacity of setting agendas and mobilizing public opinion and, through them, the government, parents, and the general public. I need to respectfully point out that the public education system is almost destroyed in the country and, if the current debate regarding private education is not channelized in a healthy direction, the private education system, which caters to nearly half the Pakistani population, particularly the middle and lower-middle classes, will suffer a similar fate. It needs to be stressed that Article 25-A of the Constitution declares that it is the State’s responsibility to provide “free and compulsory education to all children from the ages of 5-16 years”. It is not fair that this justifiable public wrath is being deflected towards private schools.
Quality and good education is not inexpensive anywhere in the world. The only difference is that funding comes from government or other sources. This explains why some of the best non-profitinstitutions in the world like Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge, along with some of the leading Pakistani educational institutions, are also amongst the most expensive. The time has now come to tell the truth and untold story of private schools. Everything stated is factually correct and we challenge anyone to enter into an intelligent public discourse on these matters for the benefit of the people of Pakistan:
Under Article 25-A of the Constitution, it is the responsibility of the State to provide education. Though it is not their role, private schools are helping the government with the fulfillment of its moral and constitutional responsibility. Private schools graduates have risen to the highest positions in Pakistan and internationally. Private schools enhance opportunities for admission into leading national and international universities, and open up unparalleled job opportunities for young, lower-middle class and middle-class Pakistanis.
Private schools conservatively educate more than 50% of children in Pakistan, and nearly 60% in Punjab. There are 173110 private schools in all over the Pakistan. In which there are 97810 in Punjab; 32850 in Sind; 24660 in KPK; 5880 in Baluchistan; 2380 in Islamabad ICT and 9450 private schools working in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and others areas of Pakistan. About 23839431 students are studying in these 173110 private schools. Approximately 15 lac teachers work at these schools. On the other hand if we see the last 10-year, only in Punjab more than 9000 public schools decreased from 63000 public schools to 54000 public schools and the same situation is also there in other provinces of Pakistan.
The students, staff, and owners of almost all private schools have contributed generously whenever the country has been stricken by earthquakes or floods from 2005 to 2014. Private schools are fully aware of their social responsibility. Most critically, in more recent times, Private Schools have been contributing to the creation of a progressive and internationally minded youth who are playing their part in the development of a modern Pakistani state.
The government talks of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is not a reliable measure even for households. For private schools, it is completely irrelevant. In short, the cost of operating schools increases by an average of 15-20% per annum. We are prepared for an intelligent debate with anybody on this statement. Private schools do not exist in an economic vacuum: when the input costs of every sector of the economy are going up, how can private schools remain magically immune? They do not possess Aladdin’s lamp to reduce costs. Private schools are treated as fully commercial entities by the government, and pay 33% income tax, 17% GST, 3% Super Tax, 6% EOBI, 6% Social Security, heavy property commercialization fees, commercial property taxes, school registration fee, registration visit fee, sports funds, school affiliation fee, affiliation visit fee, renewal fee of school registration, renewal fee of school affiliation, building fitness certificate fee, building hygienic certificate fee, endowment fund, commercial utility bills, service tax, professional tax, trade tax, building board rent tax, parking fee, sanitation fee, scouting fund, armed licenses fee, and a host of other taxes and levies…
It is important to mention here that after paying all above costs and more than 25 government taxes, out of 173110 schools, there are 85% schools which charge below than Rs 1000 fee. Moreover, there are 11% schools which charge below than Rs 2000 fee and only 4% schools are charging above than Rs 2000. It is very much clear that 96% schools are not in the limit of heavy fee structure. On the other hand, according to the government data per student cost in a public school is about Rs 7960 per month with poor quality of education.
Despite of all above untold story and facts there are also more crippling input costs for private schools. It has been alleged by some that private schools have raised their fees by percentages ranging from 30% to even100% in August 2015!This is factually incorrect. The average fee increase for the vast majority of private schools has varied between 10-12%.In many cases, “Aug/Sept 2015 fee increases” are in fact the outcome of children moving from pre-primary to primary school, primary to middle, or middle to secondary/higher secondary levels. Every private school in the world, including those managed by the government, has different “fee brackets”, since facility and faculty costs increase substantially as students progress to different/higher levels.
Most private schools in Pakistan operate out of rented premises. Rents increase by 10% per annum. Typically every 3 to 5 years, lease agreements are renewed, at which point landlords aggressively renegotiate lease terms. Landlords are aware that schools have limited options because their cost of relocation is very high. The compounded impact of annual rent increase (10%) and end-of-term lease renegotiation (any percentage)is an average of 15-20% or more per year. Staff & teacher salaries account for approximately 50% of the fee income of private schools. Teachers’ salaries are revised upwards, on average, from 10% to 20% per year but based on performance appraisal; in some cases, the increases are far higher.
Average electricity expenses across Pakistan have increased by17% per annum over the last few years. Private schools pay the “Commercial tariff”, which is the highest tariff category. In addition, many private schools operate generators for back-up power. Maintaining generators is prohibitively expensive. After December 2014, private schools have exponentially increased their expenditure on the provision of security – a fundamental responsibility of the state. There are also other escalating costs of construction and capital items construction cost (steel, cement, paint, wood, etc.) has increased every year by at least 15% per annum. An additional 16% GST has further affected this cost. Over the past 3 years, on average, computer equipment has increased by 15% per annum, laboratory equipment by14% per annum, school furniture and fixtures by 18-20% per annum, vehicles by 12%, etc with an additional 16% GST! Many private schools use diesel generators. The capital cost of generators has increased by an average of 18% per annum. The above investments are depreciated in the annual expense of private schools, since capital is not free – it has a cost.
Now the question is how will zero to 5% fee increase impact teachers? The 173000 private schools in Pakistan are collectively the largest employees of professional women in the private sector in Pakistan. Approximately1.5 million teachers work at these schools. Private schools will not be able to adequately reward these teachers or continue to offer free education to their children which are approx. 3-millionchildren. Private schools will not be able to spend on the professional development of teachers.
How will zero to 5% fee increase impact students& parents? Private schools will gradually lose qualified professionals to other sectors. Private schools will not be able to maintain current levels of service. The number of children per class will increase, co-curricular, extra-curricular and value-added services may be cut down, and quality and overall standards will therefore suffer. Private schools remain committed to providing the best possible security arrangements for students. With 0% or 5% fee increase, we now require that the government post Police & Rangers outside every school. This is anyway the government’s responsibility, more so under the current security conditions. Scholarships and financial aid for millions of students across Pakistan, which private schools offer despite financial constraints, may be affected.
Quality and good education is not cheap anywhere in the world! Some of the leading non-profit schools and universities in Pakistan are also amongst the most expensive: IBA Karachi, LUMS, LSE, BNU, AKU, KGS, Aitchison College, and dozens of others. This is because they source the best faculty and resources from across Pakistan. Aitchison College, Lawrence College and Sadiq Public School, whose Boards are controlled by the government, are far more expensive than most private schools, even though their lands and buildings are free and they are recipients of government grants. Does this not mean that the government is “profiteering”? If not, why is the private sector profiteering?
We, APPSF, recommend that Govt. employees and bureaucrats of all levels should be required to send their children to government schools. This is the most effective way of uplifting government schools. Were the media to focus on the uplift of government schools, the government would not be able to escape its responsibility and shift the blame and public wrath to private schools.
Moreover, Government must declare exemption from all the 25 taxes imposed on private schools till the achievement of 100% education rate. Based on capacity, leading private schools should be encouraged to enter into public-private partnerships. We, too, are ready to play a constructive role to uplift the standards of government schools. Until the state schools are improved, government should issue ‘fee vouchers’ to lower-middle class and middle class families to send their children to private schools. This is common in many developing& developed countries and will help the government escape rising public wrath against its inability to meet its constitutional and moral obligations. Unless points highlighted above are given serious consideration by the government, we fear that private schools to suffer the same fate as public sector schools – with grave consequences for the future of the nation.
I would like to address the independent Pakistani media, which has the capacity of setting agendas and mobilizing public opinion and, through them, the government, parents, and the general public. I need to respectfully point out that the public education system is almost destroyed in the country and, if the current debate regarding private education is not channelized in a healthy direction, the private education system, which caters to nearly half the Pakistani population, particularly the middle and lower-middle classes, will suffer a similar fate. It needs to be stressed that Article 25-A of the Constitution declares that it is the State’s responsibility to provide “free and compulsory education to all children from the ages of 5-16 years”. It is not fair that this justifiable public wrath is being deflected towards private schools.
Quality and good education is not inexpensive anywhere in the world. The only difference is that funding comes from government or other sources. This explains why some of the best non-profitinstitutions in the world like Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge, along with some of the leading Pakistani educational institutions, are also amongst the most expensive. The time has now come to tell the truth and untold story of private schools. Everything stated is factually correct and we challenge anyone to enter into an intelligent public discourse on these matters for the benefit of the people of Pakistan:
Under Article 25-A of the Constitution, it is the responsibility of the State to provide education. Though it is not their role, private schools are helping the government with the fulfillment of its moral and constitutional responsibility. Private schools graduates have risen to the highest positions in Pakistan and internationally. Private schools enhance opportunities for admission into leading national and international universities, and open up unparalleled job opportunities for young, lower-middle class and middle-class Pakistanis.
Private schools conservatively educate more than 50% of children in Pakistan, and nearly 60% in Punjab. There are 173110 private schools in all over the Pakistan. In which there are 97810 in Punjab; 32850 in Sind; 24660 in KPK; 5880 in Baluchistan; 2380 in Islamabad ICT and 9450 private schools working in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and others areas of Pakistan. About 23839431 students are studying in these 173110 private schools. Approximately 15 lac teachers work at these schools. On the other hand if we see the last 10-year, only in Punjab more than 9000 public schools decreased from 63000 public schools to 54000 public schools and the same situation is also there in other provinces of Pakistan.
The students, staff, and owners of almost all private schools have contributed generously whenever the country has been stricken by earthquakes or floods from 2005 to 2014. Private schools are fully aware of their social responsibility. Most critically, in more recent times, Private Schools have been contributing to the creation of a progressive and internationally minded youth who are playing their part in the development of a modern Pakistani state.
The government talks of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is not a reliable measure even for households. For private schools, it is completely irrelevant. In short, the cost of operating schools increases by an average of 15-20% per annum. We are prepared for an intelligent debate with anybody on this statement. Private schools do not exist in an economic vacuum: when the input costs of every sector of the economy are going up, how can private schools remain magically immune? They do not possess Aladdin’s lamp to reduce costs. Private schools are treated as fully commercial entities by the government, and pay 33% income tax, 17% GST, 3% Super Tax, 6% EOBI, 6% Social Security, heavy property commercialization fees, commercial property taxes, school registration fee, registration visit fee, sports funds, school affiliation fee, affiliation visit fee, renewal fee of school registration, renewal fee of school affiliation, building fitness certificate fee, building hygienic certificate fee, endowment fund, commercial utility bills, service tax, professional tax, trade tax, building board rent tax, parking fee, sanitation fee, scouting fund, armed licenses fee, and a host of other taxes and levies…
It is important to mention here that after paying all above costs and more than 25 government taxes, out of 173110 schools, there are 85% schools which charge below than Rs 1000 fee. Moreover, there are 11% schools which charge below than Rs 2000 fee and only 4% schools are charging above than Rs 2000. It is very much clear that 96% schools are not in the limit of heavy fee structure. On the other hand, according to the government data per student cost in a public school is about Rs 7960 per month with poor quality of education.
Despite of all above untold story and facts there are also more crippling input costs for private schools. It has been alleged by some that private schools have raised their fees by percentages ranging from 30% to even100% in August 2015!This is factually incorrect. The average fee increase for the vast majority of private schools has varied between 10-12%.In many cases, “Aug/Sept 2015 fee increases” are in fact the outcome of children moving from pre-primary to primary school, primary to middle, or middle to secondary/higher secondary levels. Every private school in the world, including those managed by the government, has different “fee brackets”, since facility and faculty costs increase substantially as students progress to different/higher levels.
Most private schools in Pakistan operate out of rented premises. Rents increase by 10% per annum. Typically every 3 to 5 years, lease agreements are renewed, at which point landlords aggressively renegotiate lease terms. Landlords are aware that schools have limited options because their cost of relocation is very high. The compounded impact of annual rent increase (10%) and end-of-term lease renegotiation (any percentage)is an average of 15-20% or more per year. Staff & teacher salaries account for approximately 50% of the fee income of private schools. Teachers’ salaries are revised upwards, on average, from 10% to 20% per year but based on performance appraisal; in some cases, the increases are far higher.
Average electricity expenses across Pakistan have increased by17% per annum over the last few years. Private schools pay the “Commercial tariff”, which is the highest tariff category. In addition, many private schools operate generators for back-up power. Maintaining generators is prohibitively expensive. After December 2014, private schools have exponentially increased their expenditure on the provision of security – a fundamental responsibility of the state. There are also other escalating costs of construction and capital items construction cost (steel, cement, paint, wood, etc.) has increased every year by at least 15% per annum. An additional 16% GST has further affected this cost. Over the past 3 years, on average, computer equipment has increased by 15% per annum, laboratory equipment by14% per annum, school furniture and fixtures by 18-20% per annum, vehicles by 12%, etc with an additional 16% GST! Many private schools use diesel generators. The capital cost of generators has increased by an average of 18% per annum. The above investments are depreciated in the annual expense of private schools, since capital is not free – it has a cost.
Now the question is how will zero to 5% fee increase impact teachers? The 173000 private schools in Pakistan are collectively the largest employees of professional women in the private sector in Pakistan. Approximately1.5 million teachers work at these schools. Private schools will not be able to adequately reward these teachers or continue to offer free education to their children which are approx. 3-millionchildren. Private schools will not be able to spend on the professional development of teachers.
How will zero to 5% fee increase impact students& parents? Private schools will gradually lose qualified professionals to other sectors. Private schools will not be able to maintain current levels of service. The number of children per class will increase, co-curricular, extra-curricular and value-added services may be cut down, and quality and overall standards will therefore suffer. Private schools remain committed to providing the best possible security arrangements for students. With 0% or 5% fee increase, we now require that the government post Police & Rangers outside every school. This is anyway the government’s responsibility, more so under the current security conditions. Scholarships and financial aid for millions of students across Pakistan, which private schools offer despite financial constraints, may be affected.
Quality and good education is not cheap anywhere in the world! Some of the leading non-profit schools and universities in Pakistan are also amongst the most expensive: IBA Karachi, LUMS, LSE, BNU, AKU, KGS, Aitchison College, and dozens of others. This is because they source the best faculty and resources from across Pakistan. Aitchison College, Lawrence College and Sadiq Public School, whose Boards are controlled by the government, are far more expensive than most private schools, even though their lands and buildings are free and they are recipients of government grants. Does this not mean that the government is “profiteering”? If not, why is the private sector profiteering?
We, APPSF, recommend that Govt. employees and bureaucrats of all levels should be required to send their children to government schools. This is the most effective way of uplifting government schools. Were the media to focus on the uplift of government schools, the government would not be able to escape its responsibility and shift the blame and public wrath to private schools.
Moreover, Government must declare exemption from all the 25 taxes imposed on private schools till the achievement of 100% education rate. Based on capacity, leading private schools should be encouraged to enter into public-private partnerships. We, too, are ready to play a constructive role to uplift the standards of government schools. Until the state schools are improved, government should issue ‘fee vouchers’ to lower-middle class and middle class families to send their children to private schools. This is common in many developing& developed countries and will help the government escape rising public wrath against its inability to meet its constitutional and moral obligations. Unless points highlighted above are given serious consideration by the government, we fear that private schools to suffer the same fate as public sector schools – with grave consequences for the future of the nation.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Girls grab top positions in IUB Bcom exam
Girls outperformed their male counterparts in the annual Bcom examinations of the Islamia University Bahawalpur.
IUB Vice Chancellor Dr Qaiser Mushtaq was the chief guest at the result announcement ceremony. He congratulated the position-holders and wished them a bright future ahead. A total of 1,119 candidates appeared in examination of which 792 were declared pass. Afzala Khan, a student of Punjab College of Commence got first position with 1,214 marks, Komal Nayab of Allama Iqbal College, Bahawalpur, grabbed second with 1,188 and Farwa Saeed of Punjab College of Commerce Rahim Yar Khan secured 3rd by obtaining 1,182 marks.
distinction: Aleeza Ahmed, daughter of prominent physician Dr Ahmed Hassan Khera has secured nine A in O-level examination of Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur.
According to the result, Aleeza Ahmed got seven A stars and achieved distinction. Following her outstanding performance, the management of Sadiq Public School waived off 80 percent fee for Aleeza until completion of her further A-Level education. Principal and education staff of the school has greeted both Dr Ahmed Hassan Khers and his wife Dr Mrs Anjum Khera on the success of their daughter Aleeza Ahmed.
IUB Vice Chancellor Dr Qaiser Mushtaq was the chief guest at the result announcement ceremony. He congratulated the position-holders and wished them a bright future ahead. A total of 1,119 candidates appeared in examination of which 792 were declared pass. Afzala Khan, a student of Punjab College of Commence got first position with 1,214 marks, Komal Nayab of Allama Iqbal College, Bahawalpur, grabbed second with 1,188 and Farwa Saeed of Punjab College of Commerce Rahim Yar Khan secured 3rd by obtaining 1,182 marks.
distinction: Aleeza Ahmed, daughter of prominent physician Dr Ahmed Hassan Khera has secured nine A in O-level examination of Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur.
According to the result, Aleeza Ahmed got seven A stars and achieved distinction. Following her outstanding performance, the management of Sadiq Public School waived off 80 percent fee for Aleeza until completion of her further A-Level education. Principal and education staff of the school has greeted both Dr Ahmed Hassan Khers and his wife Dr Mrs Anjum Khera on the success of their daughter Aleeza Ahmed.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Sadiq Public School - Educational cum Excursion Tour to Birmingham City University UK
Educational cum Excursion Tour to Birmingham City University UK 2015:
A contingent of 12 students from Sadiq Public School (Senior and Prep)
accompanied by Mr. Muhammad Azam and Mr. Muhammad Saleem of the English
Department left for a trip to UK on Sunday, 12th July 2015.
They will attend the International Summer School Programme entitled “OUR
CULTURE THROUGH ENGLISH LANGUAGE” at Birmingham City University (BCU)
from 13/07/2015 to 24/07/2015. It is an educational cum excursion tour
to UK for the first time in the history of the School.
Mr. Abdul Rehman Kanju MNA, an old Sadiqian and member Board of
Governors Sadiq Public School was also present in the departure lounge
and wished our students the best of luck.
BCU has also arranged Trips for our students especially to London,
Warwick Castle, Land Rover Industrial Plant and Cadbury Factory
Birmingham.
We hope it will provide an opportunity for the students to improve their
English language, Spoken and Written skills in an English speaking
environment. Furthermore, this trip will give them a lot of
self-confidence.
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