ISLAMABAD: Dishonesty has seemingly become the norm in the country at all levels — from those who occupy clerical jobs to those in ministerial positions. However, I believe that the real matter of concern is the dishonesty among university academicians, who are considered the brains and builders of any nation. I do not wish to imply that the top brass of all universities are dishonest, but many of them have indulged in unethical practices that indicate their moral bankruptcy.
It has been observed in various universities that many a university employee, on the regular payroll of the institution and receiving a handsome salary, gets paid leaves from their parent organisation and starts working at other private universities, which have mushroomed all over the country. The lust for earning more and more money by such elements has been causing serious losses, both to universities and students enrolled in them. Those faculty members who are supposed to supervise their students’ theses or research work, leave such students high and dry by completely ignoring them and focusing only on their private jobs. Under these circumstances, students end up wasting precious time along with their financial resources. Moreover, those colleagues of such faculty members who do not indulge in such unethical practices have to fulfill all the responsibilities and the extra work that their not-so-ethical co-workers leave behind. Such faculty members are overburdened and underpaid, while the earnings of those on paid leave double during this period.
The Higher Education Commission and the universities concerned are requested to strictly monitor the activities of the faculty on paid leave and put an end to such unethical practices.
Harun Yahya
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2012.
