Field Day for VCs

A recent ad brings into question the criteria for the selection of vice chancellors for nine universities

Karachi: The educational sector in Sindh continues to attract controversies which often relate to corruption and nepotism, bypassing the set criteria and, of course, merit.

A recent such controversy has been created because of an advertisement given by the Sindh Universities & Boards Department for the appointment of vice chancellors (VCs) of nine public universities of the province.

The advertisement has seriously brought into question the criteria for the vice chancellors’ selection, their qualifications, age limits etc, besides triggering a heated debate among the academic bodies and members of the educational fraternity.

“The advertisement clearly shows that the Sindh government has already selected their new favourites for the vacant positions and it has merely fulfilled a formality by giving the ad,” said eminent educationist and former vice chancellor of University of Sindh Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat.

“The VCs are saleable commodity in Sindh. The government wants to bring in its blue-eyed boys or complete yes-men in these top slots at the varsities, a trend that is rampant in the appointments of ranking police officials like the Station House Officers (SHOs) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).”

He lamented that the system of the country has many flaws. “Though there are many good and honest officers in every field as well, they are not allowed to work at the key positions because they will resist the corrupt practices that are being followed everywhere.”

Burfat lauded the fact that a culture of private universities has been introduced and said it bodes well for the future. “Having said that, the avaricious seths (affluent persons) who own private hospitals, media houses or educational institutions are doing a roaring business rather than ensuring that top quality services are provided by them.”

He recalled how the Karachi University used to be one of the top institutions in the country about 20 or 25 years back. “The education standard and research opportunities at the KU were remarkable at one time, but not anymore.

“If a Sindh governor bearing hardly any qualification can be inducted in Sindh, why not VCs might be appointed without a degree of PhD and appropriate experience in teaching. I am taken aback that the grade 20 secretary without a degree of PhD appoints a PhD holder vice chancellor carrying almost grade-22,” he said smilingly.

He said the Sindh government has suddenly reduced the age limit for the post of vice chancellors to 62 years while the age limit of VCs’ retirement in all the other provinces and in the federal capital is still 65 years. “This smacks of malafide intention.”

“The body known as the search committee which is responsible for appointing the VC has no powers left with it and have no say in the appointments of the VCs whatsoever. The members of the committee, however, still have to fulfil the orders which come from the top. In Sindh and Punjab, the powers of a vice chancellor go to the chief minister,” he regretted.

Another leading educationist, Prof Dr Naimatullah Leghari  who is a former central and Sindh President of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (Fapuasa) endorsed Burfat’s views. He recalled that the universities law was passed with his consultation in 2018 after the 18th Amendment and it also carried the criteria for induction of the VCs which was them having at least a 15-year teaching experience, papers written and recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and should be holders of a PhD degree. “It is astonishing that the recent advertisement says that a non-PhD could also hold the VCs office,” he said.

“Rules and regulations are formed to improve education and the standard of universities, but Sindh government is continuously changing the set criteria and vitiating higher education. These ill-advised and poor policies have taken a heavy toll on our universities, most of which have no funds for paying salaries, pensions, gratuity, commutation and other dues these days.

“A lecturer of any university has a basic pay scale (BPS)-18 but the recent ad talks about grade-17 also measuring up, which is beyond comprehension really,” he said.

He said a vice chancellor of an engineering, medical or a general university ought to hold degrees related to the subjects. “The VCs must have an engineering degree to head an engineering university and the same rule must be followed by medical and general universities, but it seems even that criteria has been overlooked now.”

“It is evident that the said advertisement is a formality and the selections have already been made. When it comes to the age limit, it varies as there is no defined law over the age limit of the VC and the discretionary powers about it are only misused by some universities and boards secretaries of the provinces. ‘

Fapuasa Sindh chapter president Prof Dr Shah Ali Ul Qadr, while giving his opinion on the advertisement given by the Sindh government, said, “The ambiguity has been deliberately created to do a favour to someone here. There must be a unified law throughout the country and issues regarding the VCs should be addressed immediately. There are many contradictions in this advertisement and the appointment of the VCs has been needlessly made controversial.”

While replying to queries about the controversy, Secretary Sindh Universities & Boards (U&B) Department Mureed Rahimoon said members of the search committee decided to reduce the age lime in a meeting so that fresh and more knowledgeable people could be appointed for the position of VCs as there are approximately 20 or 25 professors who have been hunting for positions of VCs for a couple of years. He said VCs take two consecutive terms only in Sindh and rest of the province, VCs are appointed for a single term for a period of four years. “The locals sadly lag behind the required standards of the international universities. But here, it is customary to create a negative propaganda against the tough criteria of selection of merit, and an easy or under-handed way is found to please the favourites.”

“We should focus on the quality of those people who have capability, capacity and competence to deliver. This should be the motto!” Rahimoon emphasised.

He said those who would be shortlisted or appointed as VCs should be professors or eligible to be a professor, as per the HEC criteria.

Speaking about the non-PhD permanent members of the search committee, including the secretaries belonging to the Sindh universities & boards or the college education secretaries, the HEC secretary and HEC chairman, Rahimoon clarified that the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) members conduct the interviews and sometimes even the Prime Minister (PM) appoints an HEC chairman. “But there is no essential criterion for the FPSC members or the PM to hold a PhD degree as the appointing authority.”

Meanwhile, the Fapuasa Sindh chapter general secretary Prof Dr Nasrullah Pirzada defended the advertisement given by the Sindh government and said the associations [Fapuasa] always call for scaling down the age limit and this augurs well and gives an opportunity to new professors to hold the VCs posts.

“All colleagues are satisfied and jubilant about the recent advertisement of the VCs and we plead for expediting the process of the appointment of the VCs. We intend to get rid of acting or ad hoc VCs who are just like puppets forthwith as the government uses them to serve its purposes,” he claimed.

It may be mentioned here that the department concerned has published the advertisement for the appointment of VCs of nine universities of Sindh that include Mehran University of Engineering & Technology Jamshoro, Dawood University of Engineering & Technology Karachi, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development Khairpur Mirs, Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University of Art, Design & Heritages Jamshoro, Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage Sukkur, Sukkur IBA University, Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University Sukkur, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana.