Deadlock: Students suffer as lecturers continue protest

Examinations, admissions delayed due to strike which is in its 10th day.

PESHAWAR: The ongoing protest by teachers and administrative staff at four public sector universities has created much difficulty for students wanting admission at the University of Peshawar (UoP).

All teachers associations and class-III and class-IV employees of the UoP, Agricultural University, Engineering University and Islamia College have boycotted classes since 10 days after the government filed to implement a 20% increase in their salaries as per the budget 2012-13.

Similarly, the Law College, Jinnah College for Women, Colligate school, hostels, affiliated educational institutions and even the examination secrecy branch have remained closed.

During a seminar at the Convocation Hall of the UoP on Tuesday, Federation of the All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) showed deep concern over mismanagement by vice-chancellors and demanded the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor and chief minister to look into university affairs and allow salary raises.

FAPUASA Provincial President Humayun Khan, in his speech, said that vice- chancellors of 14 public sector universities had held a meeting where they rejected the increase in salaries of university teachers and other employees.

“Due to their financial mismanagement, the system has almost collapsed. The VCs have failed to ensure efficient utilisation of financial resources,” he said, adding that classes will be boycotted till their demands are accepted.

Zahirullah, a student who came from Chitral to submit his documents, said that due to the ongoing strike, students cannot submit admission forms.

He said that he visited the administration block several times, but found all offices closed.

Sadullah Khan Khalil, a final year student of computer science in UoP, was distressed by hygiene problems at the hostel. “Since two weeks, none of the university staff assigned for picking garbage has performed their duty,” he said. We are left with no other option but to pack our bags and go home, he added.

Various student federations from the Agriculture University and UoP also staged protests.

Examinations rescheduled

In wake of the protests, the UoP has announced changes in examination dates.

According to the new schedule, the date for submission of admission forms for the Masters Degree programme has been extended to October 17. The BS programme, which was to start on October 8, has been postponed and the new dates are yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, the viva for MA/ MSc students has been postponed until further notice.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2012.