The present study aimed to develop and validate an instrument by employing quantitative measures for the assessment of prospective teachers’ professional ‘Dispositions of Instructional Planning and Strategies’ (DIPS) in line with National Professional Standard for Teachers in Pakistan (NPST) developed by Ministry of Education (MoE) as policy guideline in the context of Pakistan. The instrument was employed to 424 prospective teachers in the Institute of Education and Research University of Punjab using stratified sampling with the representation of prospective teachers form all programs, semesters, and gender. Five dimensions of DIPS Scale namely, Critical Thinking and Multiple-ways of Problem Solving, Team Work and Cooperative Learning, Collaboration and Cooperation, Enabling Students for Independent Learning, Attainment of Curriculum Goals were identified. The Cronbach Alpha reliability of the instrument was found 0.8. The finding provides preliminary evidence of a valid and reliable tool for the pre-service teachers in Pakistan.

The current study is an examination of increasing coverage of food crimes on media and its influence on the public. There are number of broadcasts, commentaries, articles and investigations that have surfaced on public platforms regarding the heinous individual and organized food crimes in Pakistan, literature about the food safety standards in Pakistan has also confirmed that the increasing safety violations have created an impact on public health. These investigative initiatives have created an impact on the audience about reevaluating their choices and decisions about the procurement of common to specialized food items and supplies. This study assesses a range of concepts related to food risk and safety perception amongst the audience with reference to the role and effectiveness of media. The media’s function is assessed in the broader framework of public service and social responsibility theories.

This study critically examines the discourses about the self-identity formation and public perception about transgender community in District Mansehra, Pakistan. The study is theoretically guided by socio-cognitive approach of discourse analysis. The data was collected in the participant setting through in-depth interviews from the twenty transgender and fifteen respondents from the general public. The views of transgender about their self-identity and public perception about transgender was analyzed in the light of the linguistic choices while using socio-cognitive model. It was found that the self-identity formation of transgender is socially constructed that was reflected in their discourse. Likewise, the status, acceptance and overall social existence of transgender are also potentially determined by the views and narratives of the general public. The study concludes that the identity formation and discrimination of transgender is socially and linguistically constructed and internalized by the transgender community in specific and society in general.

Education is unavoidable for the survival of humans being. Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Islamabad, is one of the institutions which plays an effective role in the cause of education. The objective of the study is to see the perception and level of satisfaction of the students and Resource Persons (RPs) about the online workshop offered by the AIOU for the Spring Semester 2020 (SS-2020). Data was collected through questionnaires. The population consists of B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) students and RPs who have conducted the online workshop. A sample of 300 students, including 200 male, 100 female students and 20 RPs, were chosen for the study. A convenient sampling technique was applied to the study. The study was a descriptive quantitative in nature. The data were analyzed by applying percentages. Results revealed that the majority of the students and RPs were satisfied with the online workshop as it provided an inclusive environment of learning and supported their learning. It shows that online workshop plays a momentous role in the delivery of education. The study in hand was significant for the teachers and students of AIOU.

Several factors are important determinants of students achievement. Students positive perceptions about these factors contribute to their achievement. Considering importance of students perceptions about themselves, teachers support, and institutional climate in influencing their academic achievement, this study specifically examines students perceptions about themselves as learners, teachers support, and institutional climate for predicting their achievement. This research employed survey and correlational research designs. For this research, 372 students were randomly selected as a sample using cluster and stratified random sampling techniques. For data collection in this study, a questionnaire was adapted from Donahue (1994). For data analysis, both descriptive and inferential statistics were used, with help of SPSS. It was concluded from multiple regression analysis that university students achievement (i.e., dependent variable) can be significantly predicted from their self-perceptions, teachers support and institutional climate (i.e., independent variables).

The study examines high school Students’ Perceptions and challenges in learning Physics regarding Field Dependency. Physics is often represented as being abstract and unrelated to the real-life subject. Field Independent students gain higher than the Field Dependent students as hat independent students’ confidence and understanding are higher than dependent students. The study uses a survey with samples of students drawn from both Urdu and English medium from rural and urban higher secondary schools (N = 500). Firstly, a survey questionnaire for perceptions and challenges in Physics learning and second test for Level of Field Dependency of Johnstone experiment test which is also known as group embedded figure test. Field dependency shows high mean value represents the outcome that mostly students are field dependent. Female students’ ratio is exceeded than male students because of the current pattern of education.

This study examines the persuasive strategies of Imran Khan's political discourse. It also highlights the covert ideological practices as they are embedded in his political speeches. The analysis is based on the theoretical perspective of Fairclough and Van Dijk. This study analyses the linguistic elements and contextual facets to find hidden ideologies. The findings suggest Khan use of multiple strategies to get the political power, and promote his ideology by urging the urban youth and less-privileged part of society to play a role. Moreover linguistic analysis prove Khan's claim to be (un)conventional as he frequently addresses and acknowledges women support for political activism.

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) offers teacher education programs from Primary School Teacher to Doctor of Philosophy in Education. The current study is focused on B. Ed., 2-year M.Ed., and Associate Degree in Education (ADE). AIOU has rendered great services in the field of education and particularly teacher education. Distance education internationally is an established system of education but in the context of Pakistan there are certain issues in distant mode of education which if addressed, may improve quality in teacher education. The current study investigated issues from the perspectives of tutors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Data were collected from tutors in 03 districts through interviews. Interview was conducted with total of 20 tutors. The purpose of the study was to get an in-depth understanding of the issues and suggest recommendations for improvement of the teacher education through distance learning from AIOU and the distance education programs offered by other universities.

This article descriptively unfolds the socio-academic perceptions of white-collar parents about the superiority of English medium over Urdu medium schools. An opinionnaire containing twenty-five opinion items was administered to fifty parents who send their wards to popularly known as English medium schools. The results of the study show that the majority of parents are fearful about the socio- academic or professional future of the children if sent to Urdu medium schools, which are either in the public sector or known as Galli/mohallah schools having eye-catching names. The study unfolds that a majority of parents themselves studied at Urdu medium schools, which, according to them, were once capable of catering to the multi-faceted needs of the students. Hence, the study invites the attention of the policymakers to address the issue and try to bring back the lost glory of the Urdu medium/public sector schools, which may guarantee the socio-economic future of students.

The major focus of this study was on the relationship of students' perception of assessment, their exam prep strategies and their achievement (CGPA). The study was correlational, and the survey method was used to find out the research problem. All the public sector universities of Punjab were considered as a population of the study, and only seven (07) public sector universities were taken as a sample. A total number of 1324 students were selected through a simple random sampling technique for the data collection. Two questionnaires, one for students' perception of assessment and the other for students' exam prep strategies, were adapted to collect the data. The collected data were analyzed through mean scores, standard deviation, correlation and t-test. The study findings showed students have different perception and the same exam prep strategies and also concluded a significant relationship between students' perception of assessment, their exam prep strategies and achievement. Based on the results, it is recommended that students should be clearly informed about the assessment practices for the improvement of students' learning.