Sindh govt disappoints Social Welfare graduates

A recent advertisement for recruitment in the Sindh Social Welfare Department through the Provincial Public Service Commission has deprived a large number of Karachi University's Social Work Faculty graduates of the opportunity to apply for the posts of Assistant Director by mentioning a degree in Sociology as the required qualification.

KU Social Work Department Chairperson Farhana Aleem told The Express Tribune that PhD and MPhil degree holders have been waiting for these government jobs for many years.

This advertisement has put these students in severe mental agony, she added.

"We have written a letter to Sindh Public Service Commission and have also met the Social Welfare Secretary. The positive attitude of the Social Welfare Secretary gives us hope for a just decision," Farhana said.

She said that the postgraduate degree in Social Work Faculty consists of two-year theoretical studies and two-year fieldwork which gives the students two years of experience.

The Social Work subject is taught in 15 colleges but it is neglected, she regretted.

"There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals that the whole world is busy achieving by 2030 - and 90 percent of these SDGs involve social work," she added.

Social Work student advisor Prof. Samina Rauf said that students are suffering from dejection, depression and despair as they see their future in danger.

The Sindh government has already closed the medical social work project.

"The Social Work degree should be restored in the required qualification for the post of Assistant Director so that the students can secure their future," she demanded.

Tuba Rafi, a master's student in Social Work Faculty, said that she had high hopes when she collected documents to apply for the government job, but unfortunately the required qualification did not mention Social Work.

Faridul Hasan, a master's degree holder in Social Work, said that every year 70 students graduate from KU Social Work Department.

"Those who have completed 16 years of education have been disqualified by the Sindh government within a moment even though Social Work students have two years of practical experience," he told The Express Tribune.