Accomplishing High Quality Assignments in CYP Post Graduate Diploma

21 st Century learner can be described as ‘technowiredcompuchildren’. This refers to youth focused inquiry based learning system offered at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). All learning systems involve the successful completion of high quality assignments indicating that the student has done additional reading beyond the course material and has made out all-out-effort towards completing assignments with ingenuity. The Commonwealth youth program (CYP), Post Graduate Diploma in ‘Youth in Development Work’ played a significant role in promoting the student’s based reading cum writing, speaking and listening skills, motivated thinking process and above capacity for critical thinking. This paper provides an insight into the value of completing high quality assignments at one’s own initiative.


Introduction
Education plays a pivotal role in the development of both human capital and country's development. According to the 2012-2015 national index Pakistan's literacy rate is merely 55%. A further irony is that the allocation to education has been oscillating between 2.1% and 2.6% GDP from 2009 to 2018. Pakistan's educational growth will increase on following conditions: (a) allocation to education is increased by federal and provincial governments at minimum 10% of GDP (b) Federal Education Ministry should equitably streamline the process (c) Females should be given opportunities to get education through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system (d) strict monitoring of all educational parameters should be in place (e) conversion of all ghost schools in Pakistan should be ensured.
AIOU has the distinction of being first Open Distance Learning Center in the Muslim world. This is especially beneficial for the Pakistani women. The fact that women lag behind in Muslim countries is mainly attributable to various traditional and social taboos, financial constraints and poverty (Farooqi & Hussain, 2009).
It is a matter of some concern that even after 70 years Pakistan finds itself pitiably placed with regard to its social and economic indicators (SPDC, 2003). Even after Pakistan becoming nuclear power in the world and aspiring to be considered as a developed country, it is in fact one of least developed nations in terms of education in the world. Presently there is a growing tendency in Pakistan to blame Madrassahs for terrorism (Islamic Education System) which happened to be the only available alternative to mainstream education. Cases of continual yearly incremental expenditure on infrastructures and payment to teachers in ghost schools have also surfaced from time to time all over Pakistan. Our leaders should follow the example of African countries in the fight against poverty.

High Quality Assignments
Assignments completed on own initiative in a thoughtful, well-structured manner based on thorough understanding of the subject matter gets recognition of the tutor and receives very good grades. At AIOU, the assignments carry 30% of the total marks in one subject. All students who culminate high quality assignments are able to easily secure high grades without any additional preparation for examination because they have already done all the relevant reading material beyond course module to complete assignments. The CYP reckons that completing assignments on own initiatives and on time as per advice will acquire triple benefits. The first direct benefit will be in securing distinction marks on assignments, second it will prepare the student for the annual examination and finally it will be a leap forward for any competitive examination, interview or job selection. Above all, it will give students an opportunity in inculcating highly efficient, effective, productive and positive traits within themselves and develop critical thinking, training and expanding their options throughout life. In order to provide modus operandi for quality assignments and to bring students and tutors on the same wavelength of understanding, guidelines on completing CYP assignments are shared (Farooqi, 2010).

Skill Development through CYP
Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) for 'Youth in Developmental Work' provides immense intrinsic inquiry based learning opportunities for working in their communities, acquiring management skills, promoting economic ventures, and sustainable environmental development.
Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) allows for a holistic approach to areas of activities such as work with people in their communities on sustainable environmental developmental issues, gender in development, management skills, promoting enterprise and economic development etc. The PGD comprising of 15 course modules of 3.00 credits each requires completion of two assignments with a 30% weighted average. The course entails developing an understanding of the difference between principles and professional engagements recognizing the need for appropriate alliances, enabling youth practitioners to identify different roles with a view to fostering effective relationships. In CYP, PGD, AIOU promoted student opportunity for developing: a. Reading Skills -Each course module contains a list of additional reading material. Students are required to review a book of their own choice on a relevant topic to enhance their reading skills.
b. Writing Skills -The diploma course provides direct opportunities for developing effective writing skills. This involves incorporating of ideas, conveying clear messages. Writing ought to rightly have a logical structure, a personal tone and a flavor chosen by the writer.
c. Speaking and Listening Skills -Besides improving these skills throughout. Final semester students are required to present their research report that involving listening and asking/answering relevant question(s). Listening is a worthy pursuit. All great men and women have been great listeners (Farooqi, 2010).

Conclusion
It is hoped that each student will be able to experience academic success and develop intellectual curiosity to become a truly positively contributing citizen for the collective good of their country. The students are called upon to be confident that they can accomplish all the assignments by themselves and do well on their annual examinations.