TIMERGARA, March 10: The University of Malakand has established a Self-Access Centre (SAC) on the premises in collaboration with the English Language Reforms Project (ELTR) of Higher Education Commission.

In a news release issued here, the spokesman said the SAC coordinator in collaboration with English Language Teaching Reforms Phase-II of HEC organised a weeklong training course on CALL that ended here the other day.

According to him, UoM Vice-Chancellor Dr Johar Ali was the chief guest on the occasion.

Project Manager of ELTR Phase-II of HEC, Islamabad Rubina Mustafa, resource person for the training Akifa Imtiaz, ELTR’s Hafiz Ghulam Mohammad, UoM Sociology Department chairman Dr Arab Naz, SAC coordinator Imdadullah were also in attendance.Speaking on the occasion, Ms Rubina highlighted the ELTR efforts for integration of technology into language teaching.

She appreciated UoM and the SAC coordinator for the establishment of the centre and organising CALL workshop for teacher training.

In his speech, UoM Vice-Chancellor Dr Johar Ali thanked ELTR and HEC for provision of matching grants to the university for establishing SAC.

He stressed the need for computer integration into language teaching, saying the modern age demanded that capacity of children should be built for effective participation in the modern technological community.

Dr Johar called for more training sessions for teachers to build their capacity and help them in continuous professional development.

Also in the day, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), Lower Dir chapter organised a motorcycle rally in Timergara.

Dr Mujibur Rahman and Qazi Ayaz led the rally, which consisted of dozens of motorcyclists holding JUI-F flags and shouting slogans in favour of their leaders.

The participants passed through Timergara Bazaar, Khaima and Balambat.

Meanwhile, JUI-F, Bajauro Talash chapter suspended basic membership of Laiq Khan and Nowsherawan for violating party constitution.

The development came during a meeting, which was chaired by local JUI-F chief Haji Dilawar Khan and attended by former party district chief Maulana Zahid Khan and leaders Syed Badshah, Maulana Shakirullah and others.

Also in the day, members of Timergara District Press Club boycotted the visit of deputy inspector general of police, Malakand Abdullah Gul to Police Lines, Timergara, over misbehaviour of the Lower Dir SP.