History
Accreditation
Location
Purpose
and Scope of Operation
Statement
of Philosophy
Mission
Statement
Statement
of Objectives
Spiritual
and Co-curricular Activities
Standards
and regulations
Announced
Regulations
Standards
for Christian Behavior at the Seminary
Hostel Living
Campus
Leave for Boarding students
Social
Interaction and Visits
Out
passes and Town Visits
Health
services
Cafeteria
Security
Motor Vehicles
Class
and Work Attendance
Class
Load Policy for Teachers
Withdrawal
from the Seminary
HISTORY
Pakistan Adventist Seminary developed from
a small Seventh-day Adventist
boys’ school founded on the present property in 1923. In 1937 it became a
coeducational institution with the integration of the
Seventh-day Adventist girls’ school from Chichoki Mallian. Steady growth followed as
students came from all parts of the Punjab and
Northwest India. After
the
partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, a new period began
necessitating the
development of a programme on the tertiary level.
In 1957 Pakistan Adventist Seminary was authorised
by the Southern Asia
Division of Seventh-day Adventists to begin a two-year Junior
(Intermediate)
Seminary Programme. After
several years, authorisation came to develop a Senior
(Higher) Seminary, and the first graduates received their degrees in
1970. The
institution now incorporates the Lower Seminary (years 1-8), Middle
Seminary
(years 9-10), and Higher Seminary (years 11-15). The Seminary is an
institution
administered by the Pakistan Union, which has been a part of the
territory of
the Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists since 1985.
ACCREDITATION
Pakistan
Adventist Seminary is one of many educational institutions operated by
the
Seventh-day Adventist denomination throughout the world. It is accredited by the
Association of Seventh-day Adventist Colleges and
Secondary Schools, Maryland, U.S.A.
The
BTh degree is accredited by the Association for Theological Education
in South
East Asia (ATESEA). Graduates
of
Pakistan Adventist Seminary are eligible to apply to take advanced
studies at
sister institutions of the Association upon completion of entry
requirements.
LOCATION
Pakistan
Adventist Seminary is located about 60 kilometres west of Lahore on the
Sargodha
Road at Farooqabad Mandi where good public transport services are
available.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF
OPERATION
The
institution is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist
denomination. It
receives no government grants. The
Seminary is maintained primarily to train workers for the church. The Lower and Middle
Seminary, beginning with the primary class, follow
the ten-class elementary and secondary schooling system of Pakistan. The Higher Seminary
programmes are on the tertiary level.
STATEMENT
OF PHILOSOPHY
“The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom …. Wisdom is
more profitable than
silver, and the gain she brings is better than gold… Gain
understanding though
it cost you all you have.” Proverbs 1:7; 3:14; 4:7.
Pakistan
Adventist Seminary is an institution of learning founded upon the
premises of
Christianity as understood by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As a community we
acknowledge that God is the Creator of the universe and
the Source of all wisdom. We
recognize that mankind, created perfect by God, has fallen from grace. True education aims at the
restoration of human beings to the original
state of grace from which they have fallen.
This restoration we believe is accomplished through
the merits and death
of Jesus Christ who is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. The Bible is accepted as
God’s written self-declaration and
the standard by which truth is measured.
As
such it constitutes the organising theme around which the curriculum is
centred
and ensures that education is broader than a purely intellectual
pursuit of
knowledge. The
course of studies
offered by the Seminary is therefore concerned with a knowledge and
understanding of God, the development of character based on Christian
ethical
values, the pursuit of high intellectual achievement, and the
development of
optimum physical health-all of which are primary Biblical concerns. As a community of
Christian students and teachers we accept that our
understanding of God, the universe and the Bible must inform and direct
our
educational activity and our interaction with the rest of the human
family.
“Every human being, created in the image of God, is endowed
with a power akin
to that of the Creator—individuality, power to think and to
do… It is the
work of true education to develop this power, to train the youth to be
thinkers,
and not mere reflectors of other men’s thoughts.”
E G White, Education, p. 17.
MISSION STATEMENT
The
Mission of Pakistan Adventist Seminary is to TEACH:
TRAIN
for this life and life eternal.
ENABLE
advancement through wholistic education.
ACQAUINT
with professional abilities and practical Christianity.
CHALLENGE
faithfulness to Christ and His Church.
HELP
to discover and develop skills and talents.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES
In
harmony with the statements of philosophy and mission, the objectives
of the
Seminary are:
Spiritual--To
give the fullest opportunity for the student to arrive at a personal
and
intelligent understanding of the Gospel, to emphasize the relevance of
Christianity in the modern Southern Asian context, to encourage
students to
develop a distinctly Christian philosophy of life as the basis for the
solution
of both personal and social problems, and to prepare responsible
Christian
citizens with high moral principles who will readily identify
themselves with a
redemptive approach to the world’s needs including service to
the Seventh-day
Adventist church and the community at large.
Intellectual--To
be a Christian academic community whose members engage in a common
pursuit of
truth, to provide students with an introduction to a number of academic
disciplines and a specialized training in one, to develop individual
and
creative thought, to help students to acquire an attitude of
open-mindedness in
considering controversial questions, to develop in students a
continuing
intellectual curiosity based on critical thinking, and to help students
express
their thoughts clearly and cogently.
Ethical--To
endeavour to lead students to an acceptance and practice of Christian
concepts
of ethics and morality, to develop tolerance of the rights and opinions
of
others, to demonstrate gentleness and humility, and to manifest
dependability of
character.
Social--To
nurture acceptance of the social obligations of a Christian philosophy
of life,
to encourage the development of a well-balanced personality through
social
interaction, and to inspire an appreciation and consistent practice of
the
graces and principles governing the behaviour of Christian men and
women.
Aesthetic--To
develop an appreciation for that which is elevating and beautiful as
revealed
through God’s handiwork and the best in the fine arts, and to
nurture the
creative talent of the student.
Civic--To
stimulate in the students the intelligent observation of world affairs,
and to
develop among students a sincere love for their country and a
willingness to
accept the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, and to
encourage a
spirit of service to the communities of which the graduates will become
a part.
Physical--To
encourage attitudes and practices which develop physical fitness and
mental
health.
Vocational--To
provide opportunity for work experience and vocational training as an
integral
part of the total educational experience in order to teach the student
that
labour is God-given, dignified, and an aid to character development as
well as a
means of financial support.
SPIRITUAL AND
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students
are required to attend regularly the Friday evening vespers service,
the Sabbath
School, the Sabbath morning worship service and the Saturday evening
Adventist
Youth programme. They
are expected
to conduct themselves in harmony with the sacredness of these services. Also, the students are
expected to attend regularly the worship services
in their respective hostels, the Seminary chapel exercises and the
mid-week
prayer meeting.
The
Sabbath is observed in a quiet manner, befitting the sacredness of the
day. Appropriate
choice of music, reading matter and conversation is
encouraged to help maintain the Sabbath atmosphere.
Any student who applies for admission to the
Seminary undertakes to
respect the Sabbath hours in accordance with the Biblical principles as
observed
by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“Of
all the features of an education to be given in our school homes, the
religious
exercises are the most important.
They
should be treated with the greatest solemnity and reverence, yet all
the
pleasantness possible should be brought into them.”
E
G White, Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 174.
To
develop further the spiritual attributes of character, the students are
encouraged to participate in off-campus health and spiritual ministries
in the
community.
Other
co-curricular activities designed to develop in the student qualities
of
spiritual leadership and social awareness are the organized activities
of the
Pathfinder Club, College Men’s Club, High school
Boy’s Club. Elementary
Boys’ Club, and Girls’ Club comprising of hostel
and day-scholar students,
and choirs. Each
student is
encouraged to participate in one or more of these supervised activities.
STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS
Before
applying for admission to Pakistan Adventist Seminary every candidate
should
take time to become well acquainted with its standards and regulations
as
outlined in this Bulletin and Students’
Handbook. It is understood that once a student has signed the
application
form he has pledged thereby to comply cheerfully and willingly with the
programme and policies of the Seminary.
Parents
and guardians of younger children should ensure that they and their
children
understand the programme and policies of the Seminary and agree with
them.
Seminary
regulations are in force during all vacations and holidays occurring
during the
academic year and remain binding until the student returns home. The same standards apply
to students who remain at the Seminary during
the summer.
At
Pakistan Adventist Seminary, character building is the highest object
of
education. While
those from any
Christian denomination may apply for admission, the student’s
application
contains an agreement to observe the standards and policies of this
Seventh-day
Adventist institution. Attendance
at Pakistan Adventist Seminary is a privilege and not a right. Compliance with the
standards and regulations is a condition for staying
at the Seminary. Some
important
policies, regulations and principles of conduct observed at the
Seminary are
listed below. More
detailed
information relating to daily life at the Seminary is listed in the Students’
Handbook.
ANNOUNCED REGULATIONS
Any
regulations adopted during the year and announced to the students will
have the
same force as those printed in the Bulletin
or the Students’ Handbook.
STANDARDS
FOR CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR AT THE SEMINARY
Students are expected to abstain from:
¨
gambling;
¨
the use of alcohol, pan, niswar
and tobacco, or any other form of substance abuse;
¨
immoral, dishonest or deceptive
practices of any kind;
¨
cheating in class work,
assignments or examinations;
¨
indecent behaviour and the use
of profane language;
¨
fighting, slapping, kicking and
verbal abuse;
¨
the reading of pornographic or
other questionable literature;
¨
attending cinemas and other
entertainment not consistent with SDA standards;
¨
the wearing of jewellery or the
obvious use of make-up and fingernail polish;
¨
the use of unbecoming attire;
¨
private meetings with the
opposite sex;
¨
promoting atheism or any other
non-Christian beliefs and philosophies.
The
Seminary does not knowingly admit or retain those who offend in these
practices.
Students
are expected to dress modestly, healthfully and simply.
Extremes should be avoided and mature Christian
principles must be
considered in the selection of appropriate clothing for various
activities. While
the wearing of jewellery and unnecessary ornamentation is
unacceptable, simple wedding rings are permitted in the cases of
married couples
that wish to use them.
HOSTEL
LIVING
The
years spent in a well-regulated hostel during the formative period of
life
promote habits of neatness, self-control and courtesy.
It is the aim of the staff to provide a home where
kindness, courtesy and
trust abide. These
graces, together
with regularity and punctuality in the home duties, are important
factors in the
student’s education. Hostel
regulations are published in the Students’
Handbook along with the general regulations applying to all
students.
CAMPUS
LEAVE
FOR BOARDING STUDENTS
Those
in charge of hostels are responsible for students in their care. At no time should students
leave the campus without permission from their
respective deans acting in council with the Dean of Student Affairs.
During
class time, even though they may have permission from the dean, no
student
should leave without prior arrangement with the teachers in charge for
the
classes during time out. Weekend leaves must be arranged with the Dean
of
Student Affairs and are usually granted twice each nine-week period
except in
cases of emergency. The
Seminary
reserves the right to determine what constitutes an emergency. Students desiring to leave
the campus to visit relatives and friends
other than parents or guardians must have written permission from the
parent or
guardian. When a
leave of absence is granted, a student must return at
the appointed time.
SOCIAL
INTERACTION AND VISITS
1.
Staff
Homes: Students should not visit
staff homes except by invitation and with permission from their hostel
dean.
2.
Brothers
and Sisters: Visiting is permitted between
full-blood brothers and sisters at specified times and places and with
permission from the two hostel deans involved.
3.
Other
Visitors: Parents and guardians, or
relatives and friends who have been given permission in writing by a
parent or
guardian, are invited to visit students at the Seminary on Fridays and
Sundays
between lunch and the evening meal only.
4.
Social
Interaction: Social development of the
personality is as important as are the development of the spiritual,
physical
and mental aspects. Much
thought
has therefore been given to social activities at the Seminary. Social functions are a
part of the regular programme and are
carefully supervised by the staff members.
Interaction between students of the opposite sex is
limited to times when
the students are in class or present at other supervised school
functions.
OUTPASSES
AND
TOWN VISITS
Ladies: Young
ladies are permitted to go to town only in the company of a
supervisor approved by the dean of the women’s hostel.
Men: Out-passes
are granted according to a schedule published by the hostel
deans.
HEALTH
SERVICES
At
each registration a physical examination is given to each student. It is urged that all
necessary dental and medical work be cared for by
parents during vacations. Ordinary
cases of illness and minor injuries are treated by the nurse in the
Seminary
clinic. Students
pay a small monthly fee for medical expenses.
This covers the cost of minor medical problems, but
the purchase of
medicines remains the responsibility of the student.
In serious cases of emergency the Seminary
undertakes to obtain the
necessary medical attention and , at the discretion of the school nurse
and
administration, to carry the expense for this attention for initial
emergency
treatment only.
CAFETERIA
In
keeping with the standards and health principles of the Seventh-day
Adventist
Church, flesh foods, tea and coffee are not served in the cafeteria.
SECURITY
Large
sums of money or valuables should always be kept in the office safe or
with the
hostel dean. The
Seminary will not
be responsible for lost money or personal effects, though as much care
as
possible is taken to prevent thefts and to recover lost items.
MOTOR
VEHICLES
Students
may not keep or use motor vehicles, motorcycles or scooters on campus. Married students may apply
to the administration for exceptions to be
made to this regulation.
CLASS
AND
WORK ATTENDANCE
Prompt
and regular attendance at all class and work appointments is required
of every
student.
In
keeping with the Adventist Philosophy of Education, hostel students are
required
to participate in a work programme for a certain number of hours
(depending on
class level) on campus, while the day scholars will do their work at
home for
the benefit of their families. In
addition to developing character and a respect for the dignity of
labour, the
wages earned by students will help to pay some of their expenses while
they
attend the Seminary. Student
work
activities include the food factory, cafeteria, farm and grounds,
laundry,
office, and janitorial work and other manual labour.
Campus leaves are granted subject to a satisfactory
work-study report.
CLASS
LOAD POLICY FOR TEACHERS
Each 55 – minute of class load
is calculated to 5.5% of the total load in
college, and 3.5% of total load for each class of 40 minutes is
calculated in
the Elementary and High School. Load considered for HOD’s,
Elementary. School Head
Master, High School Head Master is 20%, 50%, and 50% respectively.
WITHDRAWAL
FROM THE SEMINARY
A
student wishing to withdraw from the Seminary should provide a letter
of
approval from his or her parents or guardian.
The student is then required to complete all
procedures in order to
obtain a campus leave permit including clearance with the library,
hostel,
business office and registrar before he or she is permitted to leave
the campus.
Pakistan
Adventist Seminary reserves the right to ask a student to withdraw at
any time
during the year for reasons considered sufficient to justify the
measure. 