72 universities go on strike

Higher Education sector comes to a standstill as faculties lock universities in protest against slashing of funds.

ISLAMABAD: Almost the entire higher education sector of Pakistan came to a standstill on Wednesday as faculties locked universities in protest against slashing of funds.

About 72 public sector universities across the country locked their gates and teachers demanded immediate implementation of the salary increment that was promised by July 1. However, claiming a lack of funds, the government did not comply, following which vice-chancellors of a number of universities across Pakistan threatened to resign and launch a countrywide protest campaign.

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan’s (HEC) budget allocation for this year is Rs15.8 billion. So far, the government has managed to release only Rs1.4 billion, and no portion of this amount has been allocated for scholarships.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has assured that he will look into the matter. “The federal government would immediately release the next semester’s fee,” said Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira at a news conference after the meeting of the federal cabinet. “The budgets of those universities that were not able to raise salaries will be taken care of by the government,” he said, adding that the finance ministry will also allocate funds for projects that were 80 to 90 per cent complete.

The matter has received much attention and the government seems to have relented to the protests and demonstrations.

Speaking in the Senate session on Wednesday, Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh claimed that the budget allocation for the HEC had actually increased by eight per cent this year. “I assure that not a single person sent abroad on scholarship will be affected and all projects which are nearing completion will be funded by the government. [But] at a time when 20 million people are affected by floods, we have to reprioritise the entire budget,” he said.

Dr Nadeemul Haq, deputy chairperson of the planning commission, issued a statement that the government was deeply committed to promoting higher education.

He said that the entire budget was being reprioritised following the devastation caused by floods and thus the HEC has also been asked to shape its prioritisation plan. “The impression that the government is not committed to funding higher education is erroneous,” he said.

Director of the HEC’s Publication Office Ayesha Ikram told The Express Tribune that a three-member committee formed by the prime minister would be meeting tomorrow to discuss the issue of non-payment. “The government is well aware of the matter and we are hopeful that in this meeting, a possible solution will be presented,” she said.

Punjab

University professors, staff and students staged a protest outside the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday.

Dozens of teachers from the University of the Punjab (PU) and the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) participated in the demonstration, wearing black armbands and shouting slogans.

Teachers and students also boycotted activities at the PU and UET campuses to observe a ‘black day’ organised by the Federation of All Pakistan Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA).

Sindh

Educational activities at the University of Karachi (KU), NED University of Engineering and Technology and Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUAAST) came to a halt.

Following the FAPUASA’s call, teachers of most government-run universities in Sindh also boycotted classes. The FAPUASA has also decided that teachers will boycott classes for two hours every day until their demands are met. “Teachers will not attend classes from 11 am to 1 pm every day until the HEC grant is restored,” said Dr Fayyaz Waid, adding that the decision will be implemented from Thursday.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Teachers of public sector universities across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa boycotted classes, including the University of Peshawar (UoP), the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Agricultural University and Islamia College University (ICU) Peshawar.

FAPUASA K-P chapter President Dr Fida Mohammad and Peshawar University Teachers Association President Prof Johar Ali said that the teachers would lock classrooms in the next phase of their protest if their demands were not met. They also said that the teachers’ community would besiege the Parliament House on September 25.

Quetta

The University of Balochistan was deserted as teachers boycotted classes. Other staff members of the university also expressed solidarity with teachers and joined the boycott. All departments were locked, halting educational activities for the entire day. However, teachers said that activities will resume on Thursday.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2010.