Peshawar varsity draws flak after students asked to weigh in on PTM in exam

The university has apologised after question paper went viral on social media

PESHAWAR: The University of Peshawar has found itself in hot water after a written question went viral seeking students' take on the Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in an exam on Wednesday.

Political science students in their second semester were asked for their scholarly opinion on the divisive movement in their mid-term exam.

Political Sciences' Department Chairman Dr A Z Hilali told The Express Tribune that the question was not a part of the syllabus and was dropped from the question papers with the teacher who drafted the paper having to explain the transgression.

"The PTM is an emerging phenomenon, surrounded by a lot of hopes and controversies. Being the students of politics, give your scholarly opinion about it," the question read.

Interesting that the Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement appears in the examination paper for the political science department. #Peshawar University. Students asked to give their views pic.twitter.com/stlCrSLVNU

— JB (@JBaghwan) May 2, 2018

After the post went viral on social media, different quarters had their own take on the issue with some lambasting it while others lauded the move by the varsity.

"Our teachers are given the license to only draft papers according to the syllabus with this being an infringement of the rules," Hillali said.

"For the current affairs paper they [teachers] can include ongoing political activities which are in the national interests," he added.



He said that according to the rules the teachers would have to get the go ahead from the head of the concerned department.

"When i went into the exam hall to check the paper I immediately told students to not attempt the question as it isn't in the syllabus," the department head said.

"The teacher verbally apologised for the violation," he added.

He said that according to the university's rules they have asked him for an explanation from him and a notice has been sent to him to which he sent a written apology.