Teachers boycott academic activities across Sindh
FAPUASA representative says law allows ruling party of province to directly intervene in affairs of universities.
FAPUASA representative says law allows ruling party of province to directly intervene in affairs of universities. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Teachers at the public-sector universities have warned for a complete shutdown of academic activities if the government does not revoke the controversial Sindh Universities Laws (Amendment) Act.
On Tuesday, the teachers at the universities across the province, following the call of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA), boycotted academic activities, as their counterparts at the universities in the rest of the country observed a two hour strike as a token of solidarity.
Later at a press conference held at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, FAPUASA representative said that the controversial law allows the ruling party of the province to directly intervene in the academic and administrative affairs of the universities.
“It was to target the universities’ autonomy, with a complete disregard to democratic statutory bodies at the institutions, like the senate and academic council,” said Dr Mutahir Ahmed, president Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS). “If the government does not agree to make efforts to retain universities’ autonomy teachers in Sindh will refuse to take classes anymore.”
“We have met with government officials twice. Every time they assure us that our concerns will be addressed but everything is forgotten a few days later,” said Dr Usman Ali, the NED teachers’ association secretary general.
Meanwhile, a general body meeting of universities of the country will be held in Peshawar on March 15 to decide the future course of action.
Teachers at the public-sector universities have warned for a complete shutdown of academic activities if the government does not revoke the controversial Sindh Universities Laws (Amendment) Act.
On Tuesday, the teachers at the universities across the province, following the call of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA), boycotted academic activities, as their counterparts at the universities in the rest of the country observed a two hour strike as a token of solidarity.
Later at a press conference held at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, FAPUASA representative said that the controversial law allows the ruling party of the province to directly intervene in the academic and administrative affairs of the universities.
“It was to target the universities’ autonomy, with a complete disregard to democratic statutory bodies at the institutions, like the senate and academic council,” said Dr Mutahir Ahmed, president Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS). “If the government does not agree to make efforts to retain universities’ autonomy teachers in Sindh will refuse to take classes anymore.”
“We have met with government officials twice. Every time they assure us that our concerns will be addressed but everything is forgotten a few days later,” said Dr Usman Ali, the NED teachers’ association secretary general.
Meanwhile, a general body meeting of universities of the country will be held in Peshawar on March 15 to decide the future course of action.