To ‘save higher education’, 200 faculty members come together

The search committee for appointment of VCs should have academics, say protesters.

HYDERABAD: The academic community has vowed to protect the institutes of higher education against the political influences by resisting the provincial government’s moves like lessening the universities’ autonomy.

Around 200 faculty members from the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Sindh University, Sindh Agriculture University and Quaid-e-Awam University gathered at a demonstration at MUET Jamshoro on Monday.

The protest call was given by the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA). The teachers demanded restoration of the universities’ autonomy, appointment of academicians in the search committees and the condition of a PhD candidate for appointment of vice-chancellors.



“The teachers’ struggle to improve the standard of learning at the universities goes in vain due to the political involvement and appointment of unqualified people at the positions of responsibility,” said FAPUASA general secretary, Dr Ahsan Memon, while addressing the protesters.

He objected to the recently constituted search and monitoring committee which comprises MNA Dr Azra Pechuho, former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain and retired career bureaucrat Mazharul Haq Siddiqui. “The composition shows that political influences will rein supreme in the appointment process of the vice-chancellors.”

Dr Arfana Mallah, the president of SU Teachers Association, said that the October 31 advertisement for appointment of five VCs of the government universities shows that the academic career will matter less in the process. “The government has lowered the qualification criteria of the applicants to just postgraduate degree. It is evident that nepotism, not merit, will be at play during the appointments,” she said.

The teachers also opposed the transfer of authority for the appointment of the registrar, controller examination, director finance and other officials to the provincial government from the varsity syndicate.

Dr Azhar Shah, SUTA’s general secretary, alleged that the university’s VC Dr Nazir Mughal was not forwarding applications of the senior faculty members who want to apply for the post of VC.

“As per the procedure, the applications move through the incumbent VC. But Mughal is not forwarding them, denying the senior professors their right of applying for a post.”

Dr Liaquat Jamali, the teachers’ leader from Sindh Agriculture University, Dr Arshad Memon from MUET and others also spoke.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th,2013.