Future of Students at Barani Institute of Information Technology in Danger
RAWALPINDI:
Recent revelations have cast a shadow over the future of students enrolled at the Barani Institute of Information Technology (BIIT). An investigation, prompted by information obtained through the Right to Information Act (RTI) from the Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, has unearthed alarming discrepancies in the institute’s operations, putting the academic pursuits of its students at risk.
According to the obtained data, BIIT was permitted to enroll a maximum of 400 students per semester in its BS Computer Science Program. Shockingly, the institute has egregiously exceeded this quota, enrolling a staggering 1043 students in the Fall-23 semester alone, a violation exceeding 643 students beyond the permitted limit. Similarly, in the preceding Fall-22 semester, 629 students were enrolled, again surpassing the allocated quota and breaching regulatory guidelines.
Moreover, BIIT lacks accreditation from the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC). This absence of accreditation not only jeopardizes the academic credentials of BIIT’s graduates but also poses significant obstacles in obtaining degree attestation from the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The NCEAC recently issued a public notice mandating that all computing degree programs, both existing and prospective, must secure accreditation by August 31, 2024. Failure to comply will result in HEC refusal to attest degrees obtained from non-accredited programs. Contact with NCEAC officials confirmed that BIIT has neither obtained accreditation nor initiated the accreditation process.
Disturbingly, students, speaking anonymously to “The Reporters,” alleged that BIIT adopts exploitative practices, deliberately enrolling excessive numbers of students and subsequently failing or dropping them to meet quotas. This profit-driven approach has reportedly contributed to student distress and mental health concerns.
Efforts to obtain comments from Dr. Muhammad Jamil Sarwar, Director of BIIT, proved futile at the time of reporting. However, “The Reporters” extends an invitation to Dr. Sarwar to provide his perspective on these developments.
Moreover, inquiries into BIIT’s status revealed that it operates under an agreement between Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agricultural University and M/S Resource Organizers and Software Engineers, signed on August 22, 2022. Questions remain regarding the nature of this agreement and the status of M/S Resource Organizers and Software Engineers as a private entity or an educational institute.
These revelations underscore the precarious situation faced by students at BIIT, with their academic futures hanging in the balance due to institutional irregularities and regulatory non-compliance.
