Students concerned about Political interference in university affairs from the offices of the President
Poltical interference in universities
Public university chancellors and everything in between
Karachi, Feb 10: Academics, students and members of civil society are concerned about political interference in university affairs from the offices of the President, federal education ministers, governors and provincial education ministers, who serve as Chancellors and Pro Chancellors respectively of federal and provincial public sector universities.
Stakeholders of the higher education sector are concerned that the continuous interference of politicians in university affairs is corroding educational standards. It has been observed that secretaries in the Governor House pressure universities to appoint their candidates at open positions, admit students without the merit and sometimes even alter results as happened in Final Professional MBBS examinations a couple of years ago.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi (KU) Prof. Pirzada Qasim said: "There is no doubt that the post of Chancellors and Pro Chancellors should be given to the senior academics or highly educated members of civil society that are familiar with the intricacies of higher education. It was a general trend in undivided India to appoint retired Justices of Supreme Court as the Chancellors of the universities. The same practice is still in vogue in India and other countries from the Western Europe and North America. In my opinion such person should have character and be devoted to education and be highly educated."
Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Qaisar thought that the government officials could do more with the university if they wanted to. "I think it is not a bad idea. We are a Federal University and the President is our Chancellor while the Federal Education Minister is the Pro Chancellor. If we want some monetary help from the government, it could be done in no time if President heeds our request. An academic, whatever his educational excellence, might not be as effective in acquiring financial aid from the government."
A senior Faculty Member at KU, who has a PhD from an American university, openly gave her opinions in this regard. "It is unfortunate that some one who does not have the academic credentials becomes a chancellor while the Vice Chancellors and other senior faculty members have to be his subordinate. It is a situation that often embarrasses me. Recently I saw a Vice Chancellor with an academic pedigree of more than 40 years standing in the presence of Federal Education Minister during the convocation. It is shameful."
Another senior faculty member from the Arts faculty reminded that Higher Education Commission (HEC), thankfully, had the regulation that its Chairman would be a PhD and that is why Shahnaz Vazir Ali, a non-PhD, is an acting Chairperson of HEC until the newly appointed Chairperson Dr Shirin Tahirkheli comes from the US to take charge. "Look at it this way", the Professor said, "The requirements for the VC of a university include the ability to command respect from colleagues and students, managerial qualities and an impeccable academic background. However, there are no requirements for a Chancellor. They are political appointees. I remember a Chancellor, member of a prominent family of Sindh, who had no respect for teachers. The person had no any other qualification than being a blue-eyed boy from a family that has clout in Sindh and whole of Pakistan".
A senior professor in NED University of Engineering & Technology agreed that the practice was highly objectionable and a matter of concern but it was the way in Pakistan. "The Vice Chancellors at public sector universities have become non-entities. They are neither respected by their seniors (chancellors) nor by the staff under them. It is a very thankless job. It is the result of government clout in the affairs of the university. I had a personal encounter with the Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad who was very respectful to me. But that is rare, in most cases chancellors have no respect for the teachers". The same Professor said about a retired Major from the Governor House who is dictating the administration of many public universities. The News
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