Education woes: Parents protest against govt’s failure to hire faculty

College principal assures teachers will be hired immediately

MULTAN: Parents and students took to the streets on Sunday against the Higher Education Department (HED) for not hiring faculty members for the mass communication department at the Government Postgraduate College Civil Lines. A large number of parents and students protested at Kutchery Square in the city.

The provincial government in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) has started an associate degree programme in four colleges in Punjab. The aim of the degree programme was to bring reforms in the education sector.

For the said purpose, at least 50 students applied for admission in the mass communication programme but the HEC and the college administration failed to hire the faculty.



While speaking to The Express Tribune, parents said the students were enrolled in the college and a fee was paid in advance. They blamed the Punjab government for its ineffective policies and ignoring south Punjab.

On the occasion, Muhammad Hamid, father of a student, said the college notified that classes would be held from October 24, but the administration postponed them till October 27, as lecturers for journalism could not be appointed.

The protesters also met MNA Ghaffar Dogar and apprised him of their reservations. He assured the parents and students that their grievances would be conveyed to higher authorities and the issue would be raised in the provincial assembly.

Meanwhile, PTI MNA Amir Dogar said the HED had been ignoring south Punjab, especially Multan.

“It is an irony that the faculty of journalism in Sahiwal and Sargodha divisions has been asked to teach Pakistan studies and history,” he added.

Similarly, a delegation of journalists of Multan also raised the matter and demanded the provincial government to address the grievances of the affected parents and students.

Government Postgraduate College Civil Lines, Multan Principal Prof Baqar Jafri told The Express Tribune the degree programme gained appreciation from the students. “We have offered associated degree programmes in three disciplines, including mass communication, accounting and finance and IT.”

“The students should not worry about the absence of faculty as we have demanded the higher authorities to address the issue before the commencement of the classes,” he said.

He further said the college will hire faculty for the mass communication programme on an urgent basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2016.