ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has finalized its plan for upgrading existing facilities in jails throughout the country providing free education to the prisoners through smooth and comfortable academic arrangements.
The plan will be implemented in collaborations with the jail authorities in light of the guideline provided by the Wafaqi Mohtasib, said Vice Chancellor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui Thursday.
The plan is a part of the jails’ reforms’ proposals, being pursued under the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Dr. Sididiqui said the plan is aimed bringing maximum number of prisoners in the educational net, enabling them to become useful citizen of the society after completing their imprisonment.
A transparent and viable procedure has been worked out for the provision of educational facilities to the prisoners. It has been decided that Education from Matric to BA level will be made free for all prisoners.
The matter relating to free education for postgraduate-level programs will be decided in consultation with the University’s concerned departments.
The proposed plan includes a detailed procedure of tutorial meetings, workshops and examination to be held in jails. For this purpose, necessary approval will be sought from relevant statutory bodies.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui further said Superintendent of the concerned jail will be requested for evolving a strategy for conduct of postgraduate level workshops.
It was also decided that the each jail will be declared as ‘Prisoner Study Centre’.In order to make the scheme more effective, practical and problem-free, it was also decided that Jail Superintendent will act as Coordinator and he will be paid a reasonable remuneration for this purpose on semester-wise basis.
Teacher to be nominated in jails will act as Assistant to Coordinator and he will also be paid remuneration. He will also perform duty of Centre Superintendent during the Examination.
As per the proposed plan, the University will send a complimentary copy of prospectuses to all the Jail Superintendents along with allied material.
According to Zahid Majeed, University’s focal person, the officers concerned will make a stamp bearing the words “Only for Prisoners” and affix that stamp on all those Forms which will be issued to Jail authorities for the jail inmates.
Source: APP
