Over 450 students of electrical engineering at Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) are suffering due to shortage of classrooms, neglect of teachers and absence of a permanent head of department.
While talking to The Express Tribune, a group of engineering students expressed disappointment with the “unqualified” teaching staff, alleging that most of them do not complete their lecture times and are not available during office hours.
The department has six classrooms, three of which have been given to management students, the students said.
Some of the classes are being conducted in the laboratory, which cannot accommodate 50 to 60 students, they said, adding that students intending to work on their projects are affected because of this.
One of the students claimed that the administration has no defined mechanism or criterion to select the teaching staff.
Moreover, students complained that the teachers’ evaluation papers do not serve any purpose as well.
“We gave a zero rating to a teacher, but he is still here,” said another student.
In addition, the department has been running without a permanent head of department for the past two months. Also, there has been a shortage of teachers for two sections since the beginning of the current semester in October.
An official of the department said one of the teachers was transferred to the Karachi campus due to his unprofessional conduct, but they too refused to accept him. So he was sent back.
Another official said they had no option but to let the teachers continue with their jobs. “It is very difficult to find qualified engineering teachers,” he said.
On the issue of classrooms, he said the university has constructed three new classrooms recently and the issue will be resolved “soon”.
Dr Zahid Saleem, the university’s acting vice-chancellor and campus in-charge, said he was unaware of complaints about any teacher. “However, if there are any issues, we will deal with them properly,” he remarked. “In addition, we are also in the process of recruiting additional teachers to overcome staff shortage.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2012.
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