مانا کہ زمانہ ستم ایجاد بہت ہے
مجھ کو شہہِ کونینؐ کی امداد بہت ہے
آیا تھا تصور میں بس اک پل کو مدینہ
دل ہے کہ اُسی لمحے سے آباد بہت ہے
بیکار ہے افکار کی دُنیا میں بھٹکنا
مجھ کو تو حضورؐ آپؐ کا ارشاد بہت ہے
کچھ اِس کے سنورنے کا بھی سامان ہو آقا ؐ
بستی جو زمیں پر ہے وُہ برباد بہت ہے
ایمان کی شمعیں ہوں فروزاں دل و جاں میں
اِس دورِ سیہ رنگ میں الحاد بہت ہے
This research aimed to assess the general and technical competency of Technical Vocational Education (TVE) teachers in the schools Division of Aklan. It also determined the competency needs and gaps in teaching TVE in the implementation of the program. The study was participated by 118 TVE teachers. Mixed-methods research design using sequential strategy was employed in this study. The Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers was used as guide for assessing the general level of competency while self-assessment guide of TESDA was used to assess the level of technical competency. The quantitative data were used as bases in the conduct of focus group discussions to triangulate the responses in the survey. The general competency level of TVE teachers was described as “highly proficient” while the technical competency level was reported on the “advanced” level. The gaps identified were: (1) teacher-subject mismatch, (2) inadequate skills in applying math and science principles in technical training, (3) struggle in promoting understanding of global labor markets, (4) inability to lead workplace communication (5) lack of content knowledge and pedagogy, (6) lack of competence in assessment and reporting, (7) insufficient trainings related to area of specialization, and (8) expired and unaligned national certificates (nc).The competency needs identified were:(1) activities that would enhance competency, (2) motivation and opportunities to acquire/enhance, and apply competency, and (3) renewed professionalism and rejuvenated teaching advocacy and calling.
Bluetongue (BT) is a vector-borne disease of immense economic importance for small and large ruminants. Despite frequent disease reports from neighboring countries, a little is known about current disease status and prevalent serotypes in Pakistan. We screened a total of 1,312 healthy animals (sheep= 326, goat= 476, cattle= 234, buffalo= 276) from Punjab and 876 from clinically healthy sheep (475) and goats (401) from Balochistan for the detection of group-specific antibodies and serotype-specific genome for BT virus through competitive ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively. An overall prevalence of group-specific VP7 antibodies [28.81% (n= 378/1312, 95% CI=26.4 – 31.4)] was observed in Punjab. The prevalence was higher in goats [40.75% (n=194/476, 95% CI=36.4 – 45.3)] followed by buffalo [29.34% (n=81/276, 95% CI=24.3 – 34.9)], sheep [18.40% (n= 60/326, 95% CI=14.5 – 22.9)] and cattle [17.94% (n= 42/234, 95% CI= 13.56 – 23.4)]. The odds of seropositivity were more in buffalo of Nili breed (OR= 2.06, 95% CI= 1.19-3.58) as well as those found with a presence of vector (OR= 2.04, 95% CI= 1.16-3.59). Buffalo and cattle with history of abortion [(OR= 3.95, 95% CI= 1.33-11.69) and (OR= 5.89, 95% CI= 1.80-19.27) respectively] were much likely to be infected with the disease. Serotype 8 was detected in all animal species while, serotypes 4 and 6 were detected in sheep, 2, 6 and 11 in goat, and 2 and 16 in buffalo. The study concludes a much frequent exposure of different serotypes of Bluetongue virus (BTV) in small and large ruminants and indicates its expansion to enzootic range worldwide.In Balochistan, none of the study herds (n = 97) were seronegative for BTV, and at the individual level, the overall prevalence of BTV seroconversion was 47.26% (n = 414/876, 95% CI=43.92-50.63%). A higher percentage of goats (50.87%, 95% CI = 45.99-55.73%) were seropositive for anti-VP7 immunoglobulins (IgG) than sheep (44.21%, 95% CI= 39.81-48.70%). Odds of seroconversion for goats were associated with breed-type (χ2 = 16.84, p = 0.01), parity (χ2 = 23.66, p = 0.00) and presence of vector (χ2 = 2.63, p = 0.10), whereas for sheep, it was associated with breed-type (χ2 = 13.80, p = 0.01) and parity (χ2 = 53.40, p = 0.00). The presence of vector was also observed to be a risk factor in goat. Serotype 8 was the most prevalent (26.82%, 95% CI=14.75-43.21%) followed by an equal prevalence of serotypes 2 and 9 (7.31%, 95% CI= 1.91-21.01%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study conducted in Balochistan province and the results indicate that there is a necessity to initiate intervention strategies to control BT disease burden not only in this region of Pakistan but also in adjacent areas of the neighboring countries, Iran and Afghanistan.