Academics condemn new policy, warn to launch direct action

They say elected representatives of academic fraternity have been totally ignored in the whole process

LAHORE: Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), Punjab University Teachers Front (PUTF) and several office bearers of PU Academic Staff Association (ASA) have strongly condemned the new policy and process initiated by the government for the appointment of vice chancellors in public sector universities and warned the government of direct action.

In a joint press statement, FAPUASA Punjab Chapter President Dr Javed Ahmed, PU TF President Prof Dr Sajid Rashid, General Secretary Dr Mahboob Hussain, ASA’s treasurer Dr Azhar Naeem, executive members Dr Ayub Afridi and Naeemullah said that the composition of search committee and the whole process reflected that private sector was being promoted and public sector was being ignored.

They said that against the government’s tall claims of consulting relevant stakeholders, the elected representatives of academic fraternity had been totally ignored in the whole process.

They said that it was very shameful that an MA pass person could also be declared eligible for the top slot of the highest seats of learning. They said that how could such a person supervise or encourage research activities without having any experience of research?

They said that since politicians thought that it was their right to run the country, they also must allow teachers to run academic institutions because this was their job.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2017.