Most universities still bank on manual data system that provide room for data to be misused by manipulators
KARACHI: Keeping the dismal picture of higher educational institutions across the country in mind, it can be concluded that educational institutions are in a perpetual state of chaos. Higher educational institutions lack vision, and affairs are being run without any cogent policies and procedure. It seems there is a sheer governance issue in many public universities and it is unfortunate that this issue has not remained on the priority list of the authorities concerned, and not a single question has been raised by any legislator whether national or provincial.
Poor ranking, absence of research culture, dearth of innovation are pushing our educational institutions towards the lowest rung of the ladder. All this explains that heads of universities along with key officials require capacity-building initiative courses. Various universities lack policy and procedures development process or, if somehow policies are made, lack aptitude to put policies into effect. The heads of institutions are more unaware of the function of their positions not to speak of functions of statutory bodies ie syndicate, senate, academic council board of studies, etc.
In this backdrop, the role of Higher Education Commission (HEC) as a watchdog becomes dubious. When a thesis of a ward of a former chairman of the commission is found to be 80% plagiarised in two books, its trickle-down impact is likely to be felt at the lower level. The new HEC chairman must bring radical reform that could guarantee research and innovation culture in universities. A pan for comprehensive training should be devised with a view to improving governance and quality in institutions. Apart from training of key officials, the inadequate usage of IT system and the absence of centralised data in a university are other feathers in the cap of poor performance in public universities.
Most universities still bank on manual data system that provide room for data to be misused by manipulators. There is also no system in place to supervise students’ research work. The HEC has no standards to assess the work of research theses. The departments concerned, in league with other universities, send theses work of students on friendship basis. In this way, remuneration to check theses work goes into the pockets of same reviewers.
Therefore, the federal authorities are requested to take serious measures to do away with this educational mess.
Ashfak Ahmed Siyal
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2019.
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