FAPUASA wants greater democracy in varsity

Calls for ensuring job security of existing employees, resolve NTS and virtual campus issues

ISLAMABAD: A body of university scholars and academics has raised concerns over a recent bill cleared by the Upper House of parliament to convert the COMSATS institute into a university. The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) noted that the bill, which is expected to be presented before the national assembly today (Monday), contains some ambiguities apart from pointing out that it has failed to fully exterminate clauses which support a dictatorial mindset. Taking notice of complaints by faculty of the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), FAPUASA Islamabad Chapter President Dr Shehzad Ashraf Chaudhry in a statement on Sunday said the proposed act lacks proper representation of teachers elected to the decision making forums such as the senate, syndicate, finance committee or the academic council of the institution.

Dr Chaudhry noted that COMSATS comprised seven campuses spread across multiple provinces. Hence, it was important to have a representative of the faculty from all the campuses who has been given the mandate by all the teachers through their vote and that such a representative must be included in all decision-making bodies of the proposed COMSATS university. “The job security of existing employees must be ensured, provision of proper financial and administrative audits should be extended in the proposed COMSATS bill.

Furthermore, the assets and liabilities should be carried on to the university,” Dr Chaudhry requested. He added that a mechanism should be devised to resolve critical issues such as the ownership of the National Testing Service (NTS), dual degree programme and virtual campuses to avoid future complexities. Moreover, quotas should be reserved for less developed areas such as Balochistan, rural parts of Sindh, south Punjab and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).  “It is time to review the COMSATS bill and to make the necessary amendments before it is approved by the National Assembly, so it may be formed on democratic norms, which may discourage nepotism and corruption; and bring transparency in the affairs of COMSATS,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2018.