BS (Bachelor of Studies) has been a sought-after four-year, semester-wise educational program in universities for decades. It has replaced BA/BSc and has been successfully implemented in government boys’ and girls’ degree colleges for the past five years, exclusively catering to regular students.
While the abolition of BA/BSc and the introduction of BS in government degree colleges may have disappointed private students and affected the economy of the University of Balochistan, it has provided a golden opportunity for underprivileged students to access quality and affordable education right at their doorsteps. Implementing this program effectively and fruitfully with limited financial resources remains a herculean task for the provincial government and the relevant department.
Nonetheless, it has significantly elevated the importance and prestige of government colleges and professors. Government colleges usually enroll students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with lower marks in matriculation, while academically strong and affluent students often opt for expensive semi-governmental or private colleges such as Cadet or Residential institutions.
Contrary to popular belief, state-run colleges are far from unproductive, and government professors are highly competent. In fact, college lecturers and professors are recruited through the Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC), whereas semi-governmental and private colleges have the autonomy to hire their academic staff without the involvement of BPSC. However, it is true that the infrastructure and study environment in Cadet, Residential, and private colleges are generally superior and more satisfactory compared to government colleges. These colleges operate without political interference, student unions, and have the authority to recruit and terminate staff as per their requirements.
Political interference has jeopardized the attendance, academic progress, and moral values of college students.
Additionally, it has hindered construction projects and undermined transparency and accountability in government colleges, leading to irreparable damage.
Due to political interference, principals of government colleges often face challenges in taking action against absent students, apathetic professors, and inefficient clerical staff. The attendance of intermediate students in government colleges is alarmingly disappointing, primarily attributed to poverty, parental negligence, and societal pressures.
In contrast, the BS program allows colleges and professors to assume full responsibility for conducting question papers, exams, paper marking, and result evaluation. BS students are required to attend classes regularly and submit assignments on time. This program promotes writing skills, creativity, critical thinking, and confidence among students. It not only enables mastery of a single subject but also prepares students for competitive and administrative exams. The BS program emphasizes quality over quantity, eliminating cheating, absenteeism, and rote-learning.
It also motivates professors to enhance their studies, skills, and teaching methods.
Ultimately, the BS program grants autonomy to government colleges and professors, making them independent entities.
However, to ensure a complete eradication of cheating, absenteeism, and rotelearning in government colleges, it is crucial to align the intermediate (FA/FSc & ICS) curriculum with the BS program. College professors have proven their competence, regularity, and integrity under the auspices of the Balochistan Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (BBISE) and the University of Balochistan (UOB). Therefore, it is reasonable to expect similar results under the leadership of capable college principals.
Balochistan, the most underdeveloped and illiterate province in the country, requires independent colleges and professors who can make informed decisions. The BS program in government degree colleges of Balochistan is nothing short of a blessing for students who cannot afford expensive private education.
The writer is lecturer at Govt Boys Degree College Pishin.
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