Author Topic: [b]University of Peshawar chancellor skips graduation ceremony[/b]  (Read 457 times)

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University of Peshawar chancellor skips graduation ceremony

PESHAWAR:17 February: The graduation ceremony is the most memorable moment in a student’s academic journey. But for students at the University of Peshawar’s BS commencement, there was only disappointment that they will remember for a very long time.

The university’s chancellor, who also happens to be the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor, decided to take a rain check, leaving the students upset.

“All my friends were waiting to hear the governor address the commencement ceremony. This is such a disappointment for all of us,” said Muhammad Farhan, a disgruntled graduating student.
Being the chancellor of public universities across the province, the governor is required to attend graduation ceremonies. However, he also has the right not to attend such events. In this case, a source close to the governor’s inner circle said he had a political engagement to attend.

During the second convocation of the University of Peshawar (UoP), which is one of the oldest universities in Pakistan, a total of 203 students received degrees, out of which 20 were gold medallists.

Thursday’s ceremony was not just a disappointment for the students but also their parents, who felt Governor Shah Farman, should have made an appearance.

The students were not the only ones criticising Governor Farman for his absence; members of the faculty were also equally unhappy.

“The governor should have made an appearance even if for a brief moment,” said one lecturer speaking on the condition of anonymity aafter the ceremony ended.

While all guns fired at a single target, which in this case is the governor, members of his inner team said Governor Farman was unhappy about the poor academic performance and the slew of corruption allegations.

When asked about the governor’s absence, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Asif Khan politely said: “Only the governor can answer this question.” “We are all here to celebrate the success of these students,” the VC added.

“The governor should have been here with us today. That is the reason he holds the chancellor’s position,” said one student. Over the past few weeks, the University of Peshawar has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Ranked as one of the highest-rated universities in the country, the UoP is struggling with a massive debt. Mired in a financial crisis that threatens to cripple its operations, the UoP has written to the provincial government, requesting a bailout package to pay salaries and pensions to its employees.

On a day, when students were hoping to make some parting memories, there was little to treasure. “The government is busy with political point-scoring. How is education even on the priority list?” questioned Mishal Khan, an outgoing student.

Irked about the poor performance, the governor has prohibited the university from recruiting new staff. The university has also been ordered not to share policy details with visiting foreign dignitaries.

For students, across the board, the governor’s absence put a damper on the final celebration of their academic life. “This is not how we wanted to walk out of this university,” said one unhappy student.Published in The Express Tribune,
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