HEC approves degree-awarding status for DCET

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman, Dr Attaur Rehman has approved Dawood College of Engineering and Technology (DCET) as degree-awarding college. DCET Principal Dr Mohammad Nasim said this while talking to PPI on Tuesday. He said that it was a landmark decision by the HEC in the history of college and engineering education.
Dr Nasim said that after approving DCET as federally chartered engineering college with degree awarding status, HEC had also sent its recommendations to Secretary Education in this regard. He said that President General Pervez Musharraf was expected to promulgate an ordinance in this regard very soon.
He said it was the long-standing demand of students and staff to see their college as degree-awarding institute. The principal said that future of 142 students of college batches 1991-92, 93-94 and 95-96, affected by the NED University of Engineering and Technology over the last 16 years, would now be saved.
He said the college would hold special classes of 142 students for failed subjects and later hold their examination in a peaceful atmosphere. He said the NED University had refused to conduct examinations of these batches but he was committed to save the future of students, who were passing through torments over a last decade.
He said that in order to help students in their studies, he wanted to hold 15-day refresh classes for them on the pattern of refresh classes of Karachi University.
He said it was a matter of grave concern that some students, despite lapse of 16 years, were not allowed to pass their degree, adding the federal government should come forward with concrete measures to boost engineering sector by encouraging students.
He said that students were suffering because of negligence of past administration of the college and NED University. He said these students were innocent and deserved one more chance.
Dr Nasim Ahmed said that admission to BE First Year 2006-07, would now begin soon. He said that recently a HEC team also inspected education activities of the college and expressed satisfaction. Besides this, Pakistan Engineering Council was also satisfied with education standard of the college.
Meanwhile, after listening news about the HEC decision, the students of college, particularly those affected by NED University, have expressed happiness. They said that new DCET administration headed by Principal Mohammad Nasim had got a big achievement in the history of college.
They thanked HEC Chairman and college administration for this noble cause. They said that HEC decision would bring an end to monopoly of NED University administration. They said future of hundreds of DCET students were destroyed due to personal ego of past administrations of NED University and DCET.