Higher education dept plagued with crisis

Several public universities and boards have had no permanent heads for a few years

KARACHI:

Despite a fresh face given the opportunity to lead the provincial Ministry of Universities and Boards, little has changed about the ad hoc functioning of the institutions that fall under its jurisdiction.

A little more than a year ago, Member Provincial Assembly (MPA), Ismail Rahoo was given the charge of improving the condition of Sindh’s universities and education boards but now sources within the ministry allege that an apparent rift between the minister and the Secretary of the ministry, Mureed Rahimoon, have rendered the department useless.

For instance, well-placed sources at the ministry informed that presently there are 9 public universities in the province which have no permanent vice-chancellor (VC) and some of these higher education institutions have been working without a VC for more than 2 years now. Similarly, 5 education boards of Sindh are without permanent chairmen. Furthermore, 8 provincial education boards have no controller examination and the secretaries are also temporary, meaning that the entire administrative structure is being run on an ad hoc basis.President, Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), Sindh Chapter, Professor Dr Shah Ali ul Qader, said that what Sindh’s educational institutions were experiencing right now was nothing short of embarrassing.

“We have been demanding that ad hocism should be abolished and permanent VCs be appointed but this matter has dragged on for years now,” Dr Qader explained. According to information received by the Express Tribune, there is no permanent VC in Dawood Engineering University, Karachi; Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Lyari; Liaquat Medical University; Mehran Engineering University; Shaheed Allah Baksh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritage, Jamshoro; IBA, Sukkur; Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University; Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage, Sukkur; and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skills Development, Khairpur.

The province’s educational boards have also been subjected to a similar fate. The current Chairman of the Sukkur Education Board is serving despite his tenure being over. Mirpurkhas Board, Hyderabad Board, Nawabshah Board, and Sindh Board of Technical Education have all been deprived of heads as a summary for their appointment is still pending. Dr Qader was of the view that universities and education boards are missing permanent heads because ad hocism suits everyone involved.

“The concerned authorities can intervene in the running of these institutions whenever they want therefore they will continue to be run on an ad hoc basis.” When inquired about the alleged rift between the incumbent minister and secretary of the ministry, Dr Qader opined that both should be sent packing as a minister who cannot get his orders followed by a secretary, has no right to be in charge. “We have condemned this matter time and again. But even condemnation is a small word now,” the FAPUASA head remarked. The Express Tribune contacted the Minister for Universities and Boards several times to get his version but did not hear back from him.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2022.