KU, college principals at loggerheads

A deadlock has emerged between the University of Karachi and principals of government colleges in the metropolis over the Associate Degree Programme (ADP), after a meeting convened to resolve academic issues ended in a boycott by college principals.

The meeting, called by KU's Examination Department and chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Iraqi on Wednesday, was held to address concerns regarding the syllabus and scheme of studies for the programme. However, sharp differences surfaced during the discussion, leading the principals to walk out of the session, which subsequently ended without any outcome.

During the meeting, college principals raised objections over the introduction of the biannual examination system for the ADP instead of the semester system, which they said was in line with guidelines issued by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the convener of a committee formed by the colleges and principal of Adamjee Government Science College, Prof Nasir Iqbal, said the principals had urged KU to postpone the biannual system for another year and later shift the programme to the semester system.

He said under the proposed arrangement, colleges would be able to conduct semester examinations carrying 50 per cent marks themselves. However, he claimed that the VC was not willing to accept their viewpoint and rejected their proposals.

Prof Iqbal further said that principals were facing difficulties regarding the syllabus, adding that they were repeatedly referred to different offices of the university, including the affiliation section, the dean's office and departmental chairpersons, but their issues remained unresolved.

"As a result, we were left with no option but to boycott the meeting," he said, adding that the principals had submitted their recommendations to the university registrar for consideration in order to resolve the matter.

Sources said that some college teachers who were not principals had also attended the meeting, drawing strong objections from the university administration.

When contacted, VC Iraqi said the university had already postponed the implementation of the biannual examination system for one year last year on the request of the Sindh College Education Department.

He said college principals were now seeking another delay this year as well. Referring to the committee formed by the colleges, he said its report had alleged that the introduction of the biannual system was a serious violation of HEC guidelines.

"The HEC only provides guidelines. Universities take decisions on the basis of those guidelines with the approval of their Academic Council and Syndicate," he said.