The Region of Punjab: A Sufi Perspective With Particular Focus on Chishtiya Sufism

Medieval Punjab was amongst the first regions of South Asia to encounter the substantial impact of early Sufi mystics. This article aims to investigate the history of the Punjab from a Sufi perspective with particular focus on Chishtiya Sufism and its generous role in diverting the local community center of attention. For that, the prominent Chishti Sufi Dargahs of Baba Farid Ganj Shaker in Pakpattan is selected. The study tries to investigate Dargahs’ impact on the socio-cultural and religious set up of the Medieval Punjab. How did it influence another important religion of the region i.e. Sikh belief, paper tried to highlight this impact as well.

Role of Education Management Information System in Educational Planning & Development

Educational Management Information System (EMIS) is a formal method of providing management with accurate and timely information so that decision making, planning, project development and other management functions and operations can be carried out effectively. It is imperative that the producers as well as the users of education data and information receive proper guidance in the rudiments of EMIS and become aware of its importance and application in response to their own needs to a rapidly increasing and expanding demand from both local and international data users. Planning and development needs sound feedback, which, in the case of education department, is provided by EMIS. For the last so many years planning has not contributed much to the expectations. Besides so many reasons one may be the poor feedback provided for such a purpose. During the study it was desired to understand the meaning, importance, procedure of both EMIS & Planning and to inquire whether their requisites are fully observed. Major focus of the study is based on two types of questionnaire. Both the questionnaire are developed for the experts of the field directly or indirectly involved in the planning and development. The second tool used for the data collection is interview which is a process of interaction. During the interview, subject gave the needed information verbally in a face-to face situation. In the study it was needed to interview the personnel involved in Provincial Management Information System and Planning and Development at Secretariat level while to know the operational activities a panel of officials of Provincial Directorate was also interviewed. In the subject case the existent population consists of Primary, Middle, Secondary and Higher Secondary Institutions, both male and female, of twenty-four districts of the province. The sampled population of the study was twenty-four districts of the province having 26866 Government institutions administered under the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education NWFP. The institutions of each District are further administered under the control of Executive District Officer Elementary and Secondary Education. The data for the study was collected from the same authority concerned. During the study it was found that there is no perfect correlation between the variables of physical facilities and the facilities needed. It was also found that the school mapping activities are not being undertaken. This situation is prevailing at the provincial and district levels of NWFP. The proformas used for collecting data basically capture enrolment of students, profile of teachers and very limited information about school facilities. Assuming that these data would be utilized for school mapping, these are very inadequate to characterize the schools and its environ since it does not contain non school based data such as socio-economic, demographic which are essential in school mapping activities. Apparently there are no conscious efforts at the school stage to undertake this activity more so ever at the district level. The absence of this exercise considering its importance could be attributed reasons: lack of knowledge of the concerned officials to carry out the activity, the absence of the clear-cut policy direction on what, how and when. There is a need to network the entire districts in a province in terms of internet linkage so that the flow and sharing of data information would be more expeditious and timely. EMIS centers at district level may be linked through internet to the National Education Information System. This will establish well defined common data elements; synchronize data collection and processing system using common computer language; faster sharing of information; clearer and meaningful analysis of the performance of the country’s educational system. There must be permanent officials at district level whose job may be to collect the data related to indicators necessary for EMIS data of the event as and when it occurs. In this way they will be able to up-to-date the website of the department. Besides covering all four components (especially input, process & output) of the education system, indicators should also be developed for reference to factors outside the system. These could include additional indicators for accountability to the society at large.