Karachi University in financial crunch

Teachers’ association calls for research grants to improve varsity’s ranking

KARACHI: The annual budget of the University of Karachi (KU) is Rs4 billion, while only a Rs1.7 billion grant is received from the government.

This was stated by Karachi University Teachers Society (Kuts) president Dr Shakeel Farooqi while addressing the audience at the Kuts annual function at Shaikh Zayed Research Centre Auditorium on Tuesday.

KU spends Rs2 billion on salaries of its employees, while expenditures in other areas are separate.  "We need a better system and also need to raise the level of ethics at KU," said Dr Farooqi.

The financial condition of the varsity has remained unsatisfactory mainly due to inadequate grants by the government, he said, while presenting the annual performance report of Kuts.

The society has remained unbiased throughout while working for the welfare of teachers, claimed Dr Farooqi.



"It organised the first convention of the teachers of all varsities of Sindh and ensured the release of research grants that were, indeed, significant achievements of Kuts for the greater welfare of Sindh's universities," he said, adding that the ranking of the varsity can only be improved by conducting more research and for that purpose research grants are needed.

"The culture of research can play a pivotal role in the academic growth and development of universities and must be promoted," said KU Vice-Chancellor Dr Muhammad Qaiser, adding that the modernisation of the education system has played a significant role in raising the academic and research level.

Teachers are the guardians of the educational system and the nation has high hopes from them, said Qaiser, adding that sincere and honest teachers are a prime asset of the KU.

"During my tenure as the vice-chancellor, a record number of selection boards have been held and all the remaining selection boards will be held by December, 2016," he said, adding that despite facing a financial crisis, KU is trying very hard to provide better facilities to teachers.

"I request the Sindh government to release a bailout grant to KU to address the financial deficit of the varsity," he said, adding that resources are vital for research and research is impossible without financial backing.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2016.