Affiliations with Karachi University remain low

Only six out of 150 colleges will be starting four-year BS programme, the rest appear uninterested to apply

KARACHI:

The long-held plan to start a four-year bachelor of studies (BS) programme in the city’s government colleges, appears to have become a pipe dream owing to the alleged negligence of the Department of College Education.

Per emerging details, out of some 150 government colleges in Karachi, only six had applied for affiliation with Karachi University and subsequently started their BS programmes. However, affiliation requests for five of these colleges have been rejected on grounds of inadequate academic facilities, which has discouraged many colleges from knocking on Karachi’s University’s doors again.

Owing to this, a large number of students who are not able to secure admission to universities will have no option but to go to private colleges, if they are to continue their education.

According to sources in the Department of College Education, it has taken over half a year for six out of 150 colleges to apply and secure affiliation with the Karachi University for their BS programme. However, the strict criteria for affiliation, which requires institutes to have sufficient academic resources, has become a bone in the neck of these colleges, keeping all but one from qualifying for the programme. “For instance, Girls College Saeedabad was not given access to the BS programme due to its lack of required number of teaching staff and books in the library. The managements of the remaining four government colleges, which include PECHS Government College for Women, Pakistan Ship Owners Government College, Government Degree Science College Malir, Government Inter-Science, Arts and Commerce College for Girls Orangi Town, were also been drummed out by KU for similar reasons,” the source informed.

So far, the only government college in all of Karachi that has managed to secure KU’s affiliation is the Government Commerce College, for its four-year BS BBA programme under two different disciplines of commerce.

Speaking in the regard, Karachi University Head of Affiliations Committee Prof Dr Anila Amber Malik, said that her committee, along with experts in related subjects, had visited Government Commerce College and Government Degree Girls College, Saeedabad for inspection. “Saeedabad College had sought affiliation for a four-year BS programme in Urdu, but barely had any books on the subject matter in its own library. Moreover, most of the teachers who were teaching Urdu there were also part-time or visiting faculty and there were not enough full-time faculty. Hence, owing to non-compliance with the required standards, the application for affiliation with this college was rejected. In contrast, Government Commerce College appeared to tick all the boxes for quality per KU, so they were immediately granted affiliation. Other colleges have not even bothered contacting us yet,” the professor told.

Per Department of College Education sources, these government colleges were asked by the University of Karachi to provide details of their syllabus, details of existing BS related titles in their libraries, details of computer labs or other related laboratories as well as a NOC of the department. “PECHS Government College for Women had sought affiliation to the BS four-year programme in subjects of Economics, Commerce, Computer Science, Education, Philosophy, English, Politics, Chemistry and Home Economics. Similarly, Pakistan Ship Owners College wanted affiliation for the subjects of Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, Commerce, Economics, Mathematics, Zoology and Botany. However, inspection revealed that the college has only one teacher in each; Computer Science and Botany while two teachers in Physics, Mathematics, Zoology and Commerce, which is grossly insufficient. Teaching four years of BS requires several teachers for each subject,” the source commented.

Speaking in this regard, a college principal on conditions of anonymity maintained that his own college, like many other colleges, has not bothered approaching Karachi University to seek affiliations for the BS programme. “It is because we know we don’t fulfil KU’s criteria and will not be granted affiliation anyway. If the Inter-Board Karachi inspects us, we will not be able to qualify for teaching Intermediate, but there is no one to listen to the principals in the department,” the college headmaster expressed.

The Express Tribune also tried to contact Secretary Khalid Haider Shah to seek the Department of College Education’s stance on the matter, but despite several calls and messages, the secretary remained unavailable to comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2022.