LCWU loses 2,000 intermediate applicants

Around 2,000 female students were deprived of the opportunity to apply for various intermediate level programmes at the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) because of the sale of prospectuses through banks, Pakistan Today learned on Wednesday.
The LCWU’s experiment to sell prospectuses through banks rather than from the university premises this year did not turn out to be very successful as only 9,000 prospectuses were sold compared to 11,000 last year. The move not only caused inconvenience to students and parents but also caused a loss of Rs 600,000 to the university.
The LCWU is one of the major universities for women in Lahore offering various intermediate programmes including pre-medical, pre-engineering, general sciences and ICS. Thousands of women apply every year for admissions at the university because of its academic reputation and prestige. This year however, the LCWU failed to attract many students compared to previous years as obtaining prospectus was difficult for applicants because the varsity administration had authorised banks to sell the prospectuses.
Sources in the university said the price of prospectus was set at Rs 300 with an additional Rs 25 fund for Red Crescent, hence the total price of the prospectus was Rs 325. They said although the admissions were advertised in newspapers, the administration could not attract as many students as targeted. In the past the LCWU sold the prospectus through its own committee which, they said, was probably more convenient for students.
This year however, less students purchased the prospectus and many complained they did not get to know in time that they had to buy the prospectus from bank rather than from the university premises. On the other hand, sources said, majority of female students who applied in various intermediate programmes at the LCWU might be deprived of admissions as the merit this year is higher as compared to previous years. This was evident as the university displayed its second merit list on Wednesday.
Although a third merit list will also be released, students seemed worried at the higher merit. Lahore Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education announced matriculation results on August 2. The passing percentage was 58.72 percent compared to 60.79 percent last year, still the merit at the LCWU turned out to be higher.
Students: Students said they did not expect the merit to be so high as the result was not as good as previous years.
Registrar: LCWU Registrar Dr Hamala said the university advertised in newspapers about the admissions and specified six banks for the sale of prospectus, however the new method was not so successful. Besides, she said, many students applied to various private colleges in the city that offered scholarships and grants and this reduced the number of applications to the LCWU. She said matriculation result was good this year hence the merit was high at the LCWU.
Vice Chancellor: Vice Chancellor Dr Sabiha Mansoor said the third merit list would be displayed on August 26 at 2pm. Merit list for disabled, hafiz-e-Quran and sports students would also be displayed on the same date. She said entry test for fine arts and English literature for Ordinary Level candidates would be held today (Thursday) at 10am and 2pm respectively.
“O-Level candidates are directed to submit their equivalence certificate issued from the BISE Lahore till August 29 and their merit list will be displayed on September 6. Classes for all categories shall commence from September 12,” she added.