- HEC’s expansion drive compromises education standards, perpetuates favoritism and nepotism
- By: Dr Imtiaz Ahmad
Pakistan’s higher education sector is facing an existential crisis. The Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) drive to increase the number of universities has compromised education standards, perpetuated favoritism and nepotism, and deprived employees of their fundamental rights.
Since 2002, the number of universities in Pakistan has mushroomed, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) witnessing a staggering increase from 5 to 34 institutions and from 40 to 147 in the country. However, this expansion has come at a steep cost. The standard of higher education has plummeted, and the lack of a robust mechanism to run these institutions has led to chaos.
The appointment of vice-chancellors (VCs) has become a challenging task for the government and HEC. The selection process is marred by favoritism and nepotism, with rules being changed daily to accommodate relatives or friends in key positions. This has resulted in many universities remaining without VCs for years.
On the other hand, the situation within universities is dire. Education has taken a backseat, and the focus is solely on appointing “blue-eyed” individuals. Rules of appointment are flouted, violating the Constitution of Pakistan and establishment codes. Employees are deprived of their fundamental rights, including pensions, salaries, and benefits.
Seniority rules are ignored, and promotions are granted based on favoritism and nepotism. The mantra of “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” has become the norm.
The provincial and federal governments have turned a blind eye to the plight of these universities. Each province is increasing the number of universities without taking responsibility for funding them. As a result, employees are forced to stage strikes daily, demanding salaries and pensions. Teachers, who are supposed to be leaders of the nation, are often found protesting on the streets against discriminatory practices by the HEC/HED.
It is time for the government to take drastic measures to reform the higher education sector. The HEC must be held accountable for its actions, and a robust mechanism must be put in place to ensure that universities are run efficiently and effectively.
The odd practice of re-reappointments has become a significant financial burden on universities. When eligible employees are due for promotion, universities advertise positions, only to change the promotion to a new appointment or a subsidiary role when other employees with higher qualifications apply. This not only discriminates against deserving employees but also results in a financial liability five times greater than a simple promotion.
The continuous cycle of over-employment, daily advertisements, selection boards, syndicates, and lawyer fees has financially weakened universities. This panic can be settled by implementing uniform rules for promoting deserving employees especially the BPS faculty without discrimination. This would stabilize universities, alleviate panic among students, teachers, and administrators, and potentially increase international rankings.
By allowing deserving teachers to become professors, Pakistan can attract international students, standardize teaching, and increase revenue like advanced countries. Restoring the country’s dignity in the international community is possible if we can attract people to choose Pakistan for higher education, as was the trend before the HEC.
A viable solution is to:
- Increase the number of professors in each university
- Offer scholarships for international students in each discipline at every university
- Attract the international community to seek admission in Pakistan
- Honor and trust university teachers and researchers
- Resolve legitimate issues of university teachers and invest in scholarships for international students
Instead of abolishing the system through odd and discriminatory practices, let’s take the first step towards standardizing higher education in Pakistan.
- The writer is a PhD from the university of Essex UK, serving the university of Malakand as Associate Professor of Mathematics and is GS of the All Public University’s BPS Teachers Association.