Daily Times

ISLAMBAD: Several students enrolled in intermediate and bachelor degree programmes of the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) have yet to receive textbooks of spring semester courses, Daily Times has learnt.

Students complain that the semester had officially started in the last week of March and exams were scheduled in September but they were yet to receive textbooks of enrolled courses. According to an official statement of the AIOU, admissions for the autumn semester are set to commence in August.

Atif, a student enrolled in the BA programme, said, “I have submitted the fee and other documents required by the university. I have not yet received any of the textbooks and the university hasn’t even given a reason for the delay,” he said.

Humaira, a student in the bachelors of education programme, said that when she visited the university campus and lodged a complaint about not receiving textbooks, she was told that all books would be delivered to her home by June 15. “Almost a month has passed and I haven’t yet received the books,” she lamented. “How does the administration expect us to prepare for the exams on such a short notice,” she said.

An intermediate student also had the same complaint.

A source in the university administration told Daily Times that the printing press of the university, maintained in Islamabad, had yet to start printing of textbooks of various courses being offered in the ongoing semester.

When contacted, AIOU Vice Chancellor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui said the university was trying its best to facilitate students. “It is possible that some loopholes may still persist despite our best efforts. We are open to suggestion to rectify all issues,” he said.

To a text message asking him how shall students enrolled for spring semester prepare for final exams without textbooks, the vice chancellor said, “Please visit my office and discuss the issue in detail.”

Students from far-off areas also expressed complaints regarding lack of facilities at regional offices. They said they had to visit the central office in Islamabad for minor matters. One such student said he was visiting the federal capital such to get the spellings of his name corrected on the roll number slip.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, an official dealing with such complaints at the head office said that most of the complaints were about mistakes in spelling of names on roll number slips and delays in delivery of books and roll number slips.

The official held that on average around 300 students were visiting the office with complaints every day.

The AIOU has 44 regional offices across the country and 1.3 million students are enrolled with the varsity.

Published in Daily Times, July 11^th , 2017.