Political interference will not be tolerated in education affairs, say teachers’ associations. PHOTO: FILE
A meeting of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) was held at the University of Karachi on Thursday and attended by the office bearers of the university teachers’ associations from across the province. The participants said that all stakeholders, including the Sindh government, principally agreed on the removal of certain clauses which they believed will undermine the academic and administrative autonomy of the universities.
“Now when the draft bill for amendments is ready after consultation with all the parties involved, the [Sindh] government has been unnecessarily stalling this important issue,” said FAPUASA provincial president, Dr Asad Raza Abidi, while addressing a press conference after the meeting. “We will not allow the government wishes to play politics on a matter that involves the future of the higher seats of learning.”
Dr Abidi added that the representatives of university teachers’ associations will also meet the lawmakers belonging to the PPP, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League - Functional and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in order to garner support for the amendments proposed.
The law, which has now been enacted, does not only give full authority to the chief minister to appoint vice-chancellors, registrars, examination controller and other administrative staff, but it also empowers the provincial government to determine and shape the admission policy. Earlier, these powers were held by the statutory bodies of the universities, including selection board, senate, syndicate, and academic council.
Teachers in universities across the province have since been protesting over all such provisions in the law that limits the powers of the statutory bodies. “Absolute powers to the chief minister will severely undermine the academic and administrative freedom of the university,” added Dr Usman Ali Shah, the NED Teacher Association (NETA) general secretary.
“The public sector universities should not survive and function according to any ruling political party and the lawmakers should jointly play their part in stopping political interference in the operations of universities,” added Dr Jameel Kazmi, the president of KU teachers’ association. “Universities are envisaged as higher seats of learning and their autonomy in no way should be undermined.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2013.
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If this law is passed it will utterly destroy the already pathetic condition of public universities in Sindh!!