Page 229 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

case of disinterest by anyone, next in line/merit became eligible. Similarly,
high attendance, punctuality, and good conduct were also included in the
criteria to ensure that only the best students in all respects could come forth
for the elections.

As regards the elections, the schedule was announced well in advance to
enable eligible and interested students to run their campaigns for at least
one week. On the day of the elections, which were held simultaneously in the
entire district, election symbols, ballot papers, voting screens, ballot boxes,
polling agents, etc. were all used to give students as much experience of
elections held at higher levels as possible. A senior teacher acted as the
Election Commission to oversee the process, and to take and address
complaints/election petitions, if any. The responsibilities of the students’
councils so elected were decided as under:

a) To become a role model for other students by exhibiting best
discipline, performance, conduct and character.
b) To arrange co-curricular activities such as Bazm-e-Adab,
speech/debate, essay writing, painting, sports and other such
competitions.
c) To lead special initiatives such as promotion of book reading
amongst the students, improvement of writing skills, green
schools, etc.
d) To guide/encourage on how to access the online magazine,
Roshni, and how to contribute to the same.
e) To help the school administration in maintaining discipline at the
campus.
f) To assist the school administration on special occasions such as
parents’ day, sports day, annual functions, August 14 events and
more.
g) To communicate the problems faced by the students, and their
opinions on various issues, to the school administration.
h) To convey the messages/announcements by the school
administration to the students, as and when needed.
i) To guide the new comers/fresh admissions.
j) Other responsibilities as and when assigned.

In order to ensure that no aspect/element was ignored while simulating
general elections, the office bearers of students’ councils were even
administered a formal oath before assuming their responsibilities. A central
ceremony was held at Government Girls High School Khursheed Abad,
Muzaffargarh, with none other than the Minister for School Education
himself administering the oath, and whereby the elected members vowed not
only to serve their fellow students and assist their teachers but also to forget
the bitterness of the past, if any, and take along those who had contested
elections against them. Similar ceremonies were held in other tehsil

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