D-12 development work lingers on

[Salman]

D-12 development work lingers on



ISLAMABAD - The development work at sector D-12 of the federal capital has been lingering on due to lack of interest of the concerned officials and Capital Development Authority (CDA), despite passage of seven years.

The sector was launched 22 years ago and development work was started in 2005. Moreover, the contract of the development work was given to a contractor at Rs 520 million and it was to be completed in two years but despite passage of seven years development could not be completed so far.

Sources said that due to the delay in development work estimated cost has increased to Rs 860 million instead of Rs 520 million.

The affectees have stopped spreading of services in Sector D-12/4, 1,2 on Service Road West because CDA did not have possession of land sources added.

It was learnt that 90 percent construction work on roads, 30 percent on water supply, 40 percent on sewerage and drainage has been completed. Moreover, 80 percent work on electricity while 60 percent on gas services has been completed in D-12 Sector.

The allotees of the Sector D-12 demanded of Chairman CDA Farkhand Iqbal to remove hurdles in the process of development to ensure early completion of development work.

Meanwhile, one week International Resource Person (IRP) workshop on Assessment in English Languages Teaching concluded here at Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The workshop was organised by English Language Teaching Reforms (ELTR) Phase-II of the HEC in collaboration with the US Embassy Islamabad.

Annie Polatsek and Strand Susan facilitated the training as international resource persons. Eighteen faculty members of different colleges and universities across Pakistan attended this course.

Managing Director Quality Assurance Agency HEC, Prof Dr Khawaja Azam Ali was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Mission Director Communication US Embassy, Thomas Miller was also present at the ceremony as the guest of honour.

The main objectives of the workshop were to delineate the aspects of testing, to discuss elements of evaluation, testing and alternative assessment and evaluate ways to assess a variety of language activities and skills. The workshop was a fusion of innovative activities and theory to provide an all-out exposure of assessment and evaluation techniques to English fraternity.

This workshop on “Assessment in ELT” aimed at creating awareness of the concepts, principles and concerns of language testing and evaluation among the fraternity of English faculty of Universities and colleges. Annie Polatsek and Strand Susan explained in detail the basic concepts and theories underlying testing, evaluation and alternative assessment. Both the resource persons came forward with unique and striking ideas to enable the participants to construct tests for the assessment of linguistic competence (grammar and vocabulary) and language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) and to use alternative forms of assessment in their classroom, in addition to traditional achievement tests.

Thomas Miller appreciated the role of HEC in promoting education.

He mentioned assessment was the main driver of learning process. Mr. Miller showed his satisfaction on the fact that the course participants were representing all parts of the country, especially teachers from colleges and universities of far off areas were given preference in this course. He thanked HEC on an excellent collaboration and assured that such partnership with HEC would continue in future.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Khawaja Azam Ali said that assessment was the most important area, especially in a semester system. The main difference in the annual and semester system is assessment procedure, which discourages rote learning and cramming. Innovative methodologies and practices in assessment can change the learning trends. In the end the certificates were distributed among the participants.