AIOU assists in promoting education culture for prisoners

Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will assist in establishing the libraries in jails all over the country for the promotion of educational and self-reformation culture among the prisoners.

This step taken by varsity will help the jail prisoners to become law-abiding residents after completing their imprisonment.

“We are working together with Wafaqi Mohtasib to complete this task,” said Vice Chancellor of AIOU Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui during a meeting organized to discuss the essential arrangements for offering education facilities to inmates, permitting them to register themselves in the ongoing admission (Autumn 2016) that will continue till September 5^th, 2016.

Read More: AIOU introduces online system for its PhD, M.Phil programs

Alalma Iqbal Open University is the only educational institute in the country which is providing free education to prisoners, arranging their study as well as exams within the jail premises.

AIOU will provide necessary books for establishing the libraries. Firstly a set of books have been dispatched to the 12 jails of the country, two each in the four provinces, besides AJK and Northern Areas.

The procedure of getting admission has been simplified. Prospectus as well as others allied material are being sent to the authorities of authorities without any cost.

The university has prepared a complete strategy for facilitating the prisoners under jails reforms plan, being chased under the instructions of Supreme Court.

The varsity also trying to find the guidance from President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, who acts as its Chancellor, said Vice Chancellor.

Read More: AIOU to collaborate with EU varsities to modernize distance learning

Dr Shahid Siddiqui said a transparent as well as worthwhile procedure had been worked out for the provision of educational facilities to the prisoners.

The anticipated plan comprises of a detailed procedure of tutorial meetings, workshops as well as exams to be held in jails. Further it was decided that the each jail will be announced as “Prisoner Study Centre”.

In order to make the scheme more efficient, practical and problem-free, it was also decided that Jail Superintendent will act like Coordinator and he will be paid a affordable remuneration for this reason on semester-wise basis.

Read More: AIOU to begin new admissions of SSC to PhD level from August 2016

Teacher to be designated in jails will act like Assistant to Coordinator and he will also be paid remuneration. He will also perform duty of Centre Superintendent during the exam, to be conducted within premises of jail.

As per Zahid Majeed, the main person of university, the officers concerned will make a stamp bearing the words “Only for Prisoners” and affix that stamp on all those admission Forms which will be supplied to Jail authorities for the prisoners.