As the higher education system expands to accommodate the growing population, the inability of the government to regulate vice-chancellor appointments in the northern-province, leaves multiple universities to their own devices.
Where most universities across the globe are assigned a unique vice chancellor (VC) to lead the vision of the institutions, the ones across K-P present a rare case, where some operate entirely without a VC while others share one with dual appointments, culminating in a serious degree of mismanagement on campuses.
According to sources privy to The Express Tribune, out of the major universities in K-P, 12 are operating without a VC, resulting in major loopholes in their administrative and academic operations.
“The finances and management of many universities are in dire straits. Almost every other day, faculty or students start protesting, the local government however, does not seem to bat an eye,” Izharullah, the president of Peshawar University Teacher’s Association, grumbled.
As a solution to the dilemma of the missing VCs, the K-P governor had announced dual appointments of four vice chancellors to eight universities — Swabi University, Women University Swabi, Khushal Khan Khattak University, University of Agriculture DI Khan, Gomal University DI Khan, University of Lucky Marwat, University of Science and Technology Kohat and University of Science and Technology Bannu.
The move however, has been largely criticised for violating the K-P Universities Amendment Act 2022, which discourages the appointment of one VC for two universities.
“How can one VC simultaneously administer all the affairs of two universities,” Izharullah protested. He further sarcastically challenged the governor’s decision when he said, “Is there a shortage of erudite individuals in our province which has necessitated such a haphazard move. Why can’t a separate, permanent VC, be appointed for each university.”
Where Izharullah lambastes the inability of the government to appoint permanent VCs for the universities, he also calls out the appointment of faculty and VCs from far-flung areas, who are disinterested in taking the vision of the university forward.
“The local government keeps filling VC and faculty positions with academics from other provinces, who are disconnected with the on-ground reality and are unable to manage the affairs of the university,” Izharullah complained.
While some like Izharullah criticise the recent move of the government in the high education sector, others like Suliman Khan, an education academic, believe that the state’s attitude of indifference towards education is not out of the blue.
“Since the past couple of years, the K-P government has been perpetually ignoring the education sector. Why else would they randomly give charge for two universities to a couple of VCs, something which has never been seen before,” Suliman challenged. He further added that separate, permanent VCs for the universities was the only real solution to the current financial and administrative chaos looming over the varsities.
Seeking a response to Suliman’s demand, The Express Tribune tried contacting the secretary of the Higher Education Department, government of K-P, but could not get through to the official.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2023.
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