GCU criticized for adding caste column in admission form
Parents and members of civil society have criticized Government College University (GCU) admissions policy for including a caste column in the admission form.
The plaintiffs launched an online protest against the inclusion of a caste column in the admission form stating that Pakistani society was already divided into castes and that including it in the admission form would worsen the situation.
They said the university should remove the caste column from the admission application form. Vice-Chancellor GCU Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi told Dawn that the caste column in the admission form was not new and was included under the direction of the Punjab government.
He said it was not mandatory for the plaintiffs to fill in the caste column. He said the data would be provided to the government if he ever expressed a need to provide details on the record caste.
GCU criticized for adding caste column in admission form
The education system reflects the path of progress, but our education system promotes prejudice in society. It is not something to be ignored, but serious discrimination against the dispossessed.
This also happens in organizations if they have their own application form to fill out. It has been announced for elimination now. It would not be wrong to say that one of the most famous colleges in Lahore is the first educational institution established in Punjab.
Generations of students have passed through the portals and secured prominent positions in all walks of life in Pakistan.
It has the highest graduation rate in the country, averaging 95.5% per year. The GCU is also known for its historical roots.
However, in the wake of such an act, there has been a lot of criticism for adding a caste system to education, which is why even GC removed it.
Caste column has been included in admission forms for many yrs; it existed long before my arrival @gcuniversitylhr It has always been optional, not mandatory to fill. However, I’ve now directed GCU’s Registrar to immediately remove this column from admissions form. pic.twitter.com/xF3l1Hv0l8
— Asghar Zaidi (@zaidia) September 20, 2022
