Universities remain closed on second consecutive day

All public universities across Sindh remained closed on the second consecutive day on Tuesday as teachers boycotted academic activities to protest the Sindh Universities Law 2013.

The protests erupted in the wake of an advertisement posted by the Sindh government for the appointment of a registrar, an examinations controller and a finance director for 20 different universities. Students ultimately faced the brunt of the protest as exams scheduled for the day were postponed and there were no classes held at any of the universities. The executive council of the Karachi University Teachers’ Society met on Monday to discuss the implementation of the boycott in universities across the province. "According to our reports, all universities adhered to the boycott and there were no classes or examinations held at any of the public institutions," the Karachi University Teachers' Society president, Jamil Kazmi, told The Express Tribune. In response to a question regarding the implications of the strike, Kazmi defended the decision by saying that the strike would merely cause a short-term inconvenience for the students. "If we allow the chief minister to appoint the registrar, can you imagine the consequences?" he questioned. "The government has no credibility. They will destroy the institutions of higher learning just like they destroyed public schools and colleges."

According to Kazmi, public colleges had merely become examination centres where there were no classes for students and no education was being imparted. "If we don't take a stand now, our children's futures will be destroyed."

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2014.