PU rules hurdle in getting admission in Journalism | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

PU rules hurdle in getting admission in Journalism

By: Rana Latif

LAHORE — Again this year hundreds of graduates who did not study Journalism as an elective subject in BA as regular students but are aspirant of admission in the MS Communication Studies would fail to get admission in Punjab University and its affiliated colleges due to new admission rules of the University.

It is however, surprising that thousands of external candidates in BA opt for Journalism but they fail to get admission due to age factor which is up to 26 years. The only chance for them is to get admission under self-finance scheme in the universities, which is beyond the affordable limit of students belonging to poor and lower-middle classes.

The subject of journalism at BA level is mandatory for admission in MA, Mass Communication but the fact is that Journalism 200 marks paper is not taught in BA in colleges due to non-availability of teachers while over 2,000 University graduates turn out from the PU itself and its affiliated colleges for taking teaching assignments. It is paradoxical, however, that the Government has asked the Colleges to introduce BS (Hons) four years programme in Communication Studies in colleges. The colleges have also been asked to introduce BS (Hons) in other subjects of Arts and Science from the coming session starting from September 2010.

Due to no arrangements of study in Journalism in colleges, the students desirous of taking admission in Master programmes have to appear as external candidates in BA while the regular students of colleges fail to do BA with journalism as an elective subject. One can imagine the quality of education available to external candidates. Majority of private students who appear in the BA examination of the Punjab University choose Journalisms as an elective subject because of its popularity and importance. The University receives thousands of application in its Master programme in communication studies for few 11,000 seats. In postgraduate colleges where Master degree programme is allowed, thousands apply for admission against total 300 seats in colleges across the province.

The Higher Education Wing of Punjab Education department has recently recruited over 40 assistant professors in Mass Communication along with other subjects of Arts and Science but no lecturer in the subject. It is expected that after strengthening the staff shortage of various cadres of college teachers, the HEW will focus on recruitment of lecturers in the subjects which are not taught in colleges. For example Persian, Arabic, French, Punjabi Journalism, Social Studies, Social Work etc and dozens of other subjects.

This will not only help students to get quality education but help in overcoming unemployment. In view of the importance of the subject of journalism and the role of media in national development, it was imperative to recruit journalism teachers in colleges. This was a long-standing proposal but with the change over of Governments and red-tapism, this plan could not be implemented.
Source: The Nation
Date:6/25/2010