Civil society activists lament BZU’s deteriorating rankings

BZU’s rankings fell from third to 10th in one year, according to a HEC report.

MULTAN:

Civil society workers have expressed concern over the falling rankings of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) in terms of quality and research-based education.

BZU’s rankings fell from third to 10th in one year, according to a Higher Education Commission (HEC) report.

Taraqqi Pasand Organisation (TPO) Executive Director Mohammad Jameel said the fall in university rankings was a major setback for the region.

“The youth are being deprived of quality and research-based qualifications,” he said.

He cited sexual harassment allegations at the university, 50 per cent hike in fee, and teachers’ politics as main reasons behind falling standards at the varsity.

Jameel said, “I have written a letter to the vice chancellor demanding a transparent inquiry into allegations of girl students being harassed by a teacher.”

Young Pakistanis Organisation President Naeem Iqbal Naeem said the doors of quality education were closing for students belonging to poor families.

He said the recent 50 per cent hike in fees of BZU showed the priorities of the administration.

He said the university was being run as an industry.

He said that a delegation of civil society workers would meet the vice chancellor to demand improvement in rankings.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2013.