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Project Abstract
The laboratory of my vision would require a large piece of land and half
a million dollars to do the job of building, furnishing and running the
show. I went door to door in government offices in search of support and
funds. I wasted two years in aimless pursuits. Now I am determined to do
whatever meager is possible with my own resources. My physical and mental
capacities are on decline, so I need to hurry through this process. Better
something than nothing. I envisage $75000 for the building and $75000 for
furnishing and start. I also hope students would start paying substantial
fees to meet the expenses. I don’t need my salary or any profit.
It is a unique way of teaching
sciences to youngsters. Through hands on experiments, they learn the
principles of modern technology. They design experiments to satisfy their
own curiosity. It would be one science field encompassing subjects of
chemistry, physics, biology, computer and math, geology etc. Students will
develop a sense of experimentation and research taught nowhere around. This
type of training is good for science and arts students alike because it
opens up new vistas of understanding and students become productive
components of Pakistani society.
There would be several 4 to 8 week intensive courses available in morning
or evening sessions. Bright perspective students must find time out of their
regular schedule to attend these sessions. I am starting this project under
CCB program.
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What's New
 | Working with local government, Lahore to do this project. |
| Decided to go ahead with Lahore location.
Mainly I am depressed here, not |
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getting anything done after spending 14 months. |
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LAB PROPOSAL
| I have spent
most of my life in the field of education in the Western Hemisphere
besides teaching and research in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Now at
retirement age I wish to contribute something concrete to education in
Pakistan. Saving dollar at a time I have gathered some funds with which
I could start a laboratory school. For my comfortable retirement, I look
toward a big town with medical facilities. Although full of pollution
and chaos, Lahore is a viable site for my project. It is already full of
rich, big schools but my project would be unique. |
| I should focus on establishing a school laboratory where students
from other schools come for experimentation. Yes, a comprehensive school
laboratory is missing in Lahore. That would be a great idea. Talented
students need a platform to engage into innovations, designing and
creativity. There would be challenges to come up with multitude of local
experiments, writing manuals, presentations and booklets. It would be
good involvement and pastime for me, too. I may not have enough funds
and technology resources at my disposal but it is worth trying. Along
the line government would help or some other donor may join. I have to
show that this is really worthwhile. |
| I have a
residential plot in Canalview Colony. This I would use as my residence
or for other supportive purpose. |
| My dream is that
this lab would set an example for other schools to start their own
efforts. It should be like sowing a seed for a new crop. Technology in
Pakistan may get a boost. |
| Idea of a
Laboratory. |
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| Most government
schools and most private schools have zero to nominal lab facilities.
The whole focus is on theory, a common cause of lack of technology in
third world countries. Even big research labs are in a miserable
condition, so creative output is negligible. The same researchers in a
foreign country do wonderful contributions. In Pakistan millions of
non-science students never get to learn the basic principles of physics
and chemistry affecting their daily life. Even if you provide one-room
good lab with your own supervision to an elementary school, you
accomplish a noble cause. Believe me I have seen provisions in many high
schools and colleges to be unsatisfactory. |
| Education
through Experimentation: |
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| This is the
real way of learning. Expose students to hundreds of concepts with
hands-on experiments in a matter of a day or two. Dozens of things for
example can be done with air compressor and a vacuum pump. Even make
your own pressure gauges. All kinds of experiments could be designed
with a supply of cheap thermometers and household material of varying
conductivities. One good microscope costing $300 could engage many
students into the cellular details or microbial life. The teachers must
be well-versed and doing their things themselves day and night. It is a
matter of commitment and devotion if students have to benefit from such
facilities. Otherwise all the resources would go to ruins. And once
students get real training, they are not going to sit idle in real life. |
| Financial
Outlay: |
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| The laboratory
of my vision would require a large piece of land and half a million
dollars to do the job of building, furnishing and running the show. I
went door to door in government offices in search of support and funds.
I wasted two years in aimless pursuits. Now I am determined to do
whatever meager possible with my own resources. My physical and mental
capacities are on decline, so I need to hurry through this process.
Better something than nothing. I envisage $75000 for the building and
$75000 for furnishing and start. I also hope students would start paying
substantial fees to meet the expenses. I don’t need my salary or any
profit. |
| Fears and Forebodings: |
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| Starting
anything in Pakistan is hard. There is lot of bureaucracy and red tape.
Most people will look at my project with appreciation and approbation,
yet in reality they would ridicule it. The employees would show
superficial dedication. I would be cheated at every step. I hope I get
lots of students willing to pay fees and engage in extracurricular lab
work. It may turn out otherwise. Students may not be after real
learning. I may run short of funds before this project reaches full
bloom. Still this whole project is so good and noble; I would cast away
all my doubts and get going with it. |
| A Food for
Thought: |
| If you have any
real interest in promoting education in Pakistan, do something more
practical for the schools instead of giving donations to ngo’s. With
proper planning, your own supervision and funds as little as $5000, you
can furnish one room in elementary or middle school with scientific
equipment and supplies. This could be a big resource for kids there. You
would get your rewards. There are many ways to help the cause of
education in Pakistan. |
| Book about
Pakistani Coast and Ocean: |
| I am not an
oceanographer but got interested in Pakistani coast. I traveled along
Sindh and Baluchistan coast, took boat trip and spent a month at
Oceanographic Institute, Karachi. Now I have material ready to do a
small book. I can’t do a great job like an oceanographer but even simple
books are badly needed for the country, especially with Urdu
connotations. I would have geographical maps and pictures of coastal
views. There would be mention of coastal settlements and government
efforts to develop the resources. Do you know about our islands and
bays? |
The author of this web site is BASHIR AKIL living in USA for the last 35
years, coming from Faisalabad, Pakistan. I have always been associated with
Pakistan, but now this association is growing from a retirement perspective.
I have visited India many times but only recently was able to visit my
birthplace in district Hoshiarpur.
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