Erosion of varsities' autonomy feared

The Punjab Chapter of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) has criticised the Punjab government's alleged moves to undermine the autonomy of public sector universities.

According to a statement, the participants of an emergency meeting chaired by FAPUASA Punjab Chapter President Dr Muhammad Islam on Tuesday expressed concern over the government's proposed amendments to the acts of long-established universities, including a proposal to make the higher education minister the chairperson of university syndicates. They expressed fear that the globally unprecedented move would politicise and micromanage university affairs at the cost of academic freedom.

The federation stated that the proposed changes included the abolition of university senates, reduction of elected faculty representation in syndicates and the elimination of the participation of high court judges.

Punjab Assembly recently passed a bill to include three members of the legislature in the syndicates of the universities in Punjab.

The participants warned that regressive steps would open the floodgates to political interference, compromise academic integrity and cripple an already struggling higher education system.