Teachers in trouble

Teachers at institutions across the country marked World Teachers Day as an occasion of protest, with the academic staff association calling a strike against the government failure to release funds to the HEC. There can be no doubt that education needs as much support as possible. This is even truer of primary, rather than higher education. The lack of funding for this sector has played a huge part in holding us back as a nation and preventing social sector development. The teachers have some right to be aggrieved, especially as a promise of more funds was made. There must, however, be some question as to whether strikes, which hamper students, are the most responsible way to express these grievances.

It is also worth keeping in mind that before the HEC was set up in 2002, funding to universities by the old Universities Grant Commission was significantly less than has been the case since then. Indeed, there is an argument to suggest the budget for the HEC was an unrealistically inflated one under the Musharraf regime. A cut in it was perhaps inevitable. Even now universities were asked to consider raising resources themselves. They must find ways of doing so rather than remaining dependent on the HEC or the government. This does not mean a raise in fees. Such a step would be unjust given that State-run universities are most often attended by those from poorer backgrounds. Tightening up administration, cutting over-heads and renting out space for workshops or other events could be means to bring in money. After all institutions around the world use such measures to support themselves. Even with HEC funding more resources should be raised to improve the quality of learning and to enhance other facilities. The academic staff at the institutions seeking funds must also consider the benefits this could bring in the longer run.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2010.