Rector IIUI pleads for students unions' apolitical role after restoration.

ISLAMABAD -- Rector International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) Prof Dr Masoom Yasinzai

called for a comprehensive road-map to restore students unions at colleges and universities sans political patronage and affiliation. He said it would lead to a robust system that eventually grooms 'future leaders and educational reformers' at these institutions of the country. In an exclusive interview with reporter during a formal visit to its Headquarter, he elaborated that the students unions role in the past had been eclipsed due to the patronage of different political parties, adding their 'deviated role' had some bad precedents as well. He said these unions should not work under umbrella of political parties since they will not be able to focus on educational issues.

Unfortunately, in the past, these unions had been working in the universities as political wings of different parties which ruined the atmosphere of educational institutions. "The main objective of these unions was to learn from the expertise of each other and to work for the promotion of education for next generations" he added. He underlined the need to encourage those students at university level, who would take up education and policies issues. He suggested the government to take academia on board while formulating new educational policies, aimed at improving education sector and for ensuring optimum results at national level.

Citing developed countries, he said "We should learn from their expertise to reinvigorate our education system to meet contemporary requirements and tackle future challenges." The Rector IIUI further said no...