PRINCIPAL of Kinnaird College for Women Dr Mira Phailbus is likely to be replaced with Dr Bernadette Louise Dean soon as the college’s search committee has completed its process recommending her as new principal, The News has learnt reliably.
The selection of Dr Bernadette was announced in an emergent meeting of the KC Board of Governors (BoG) held on Saturday.
According to the sources the KC BoG meeting, chaired by its Chairman Dr Alexander John Malik, approved the recommendations of the search committee and would soon forward these recommendations to the Punjab government for final approval.
Sources further said Dr Bernadette Louise Dean had also been asked to work as principal-designate in the college till approval from the government. They said since KC was a semi-autonomous institution final and formal notification regarding appointment of principal was to be issued by the government. They added terms and conditions however were mandate of the BoG.
It is learnt Dr Bernadette Louise was earlier serving at Aga Khan University (AKU) Karachi as Associate Professor and Head Academic and Student Affairs in the varsity’s Institute of Educational Development.
Dr Mira Phailbus, who had also served as Punjab Minister for Education & Minority Affairs in the previous caretaker government, was reinstated as KC principal in 2005 by the BoG. Sources said reinstatement of Dr Phailbus was on a short term basis as she had already served the college for over 30 years. The removal of Prof Ira Hasan from headship of KC in 2005 had created a controversy as she was asked to report to the Punjab Education Department abruptly.
Sources further said as Dr Mira Phailbus was serving on reemployment her services were to be terminated following orders of the Punjab government issued last week.
Besides officials from the education and finance departments prominent among those who attended the KC BoG meeting on Saturday include Dr Mira Phailbus, Pro Chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Syed Babar Ali, Vice Chancellor of the Government College University (GCU) Prof Dr Khalid Aftab and former principal of National College of Arts (NCA) Prof Sajida Vandal.
When contacted Dr Mira Phailbus confirmed that a meeting of the KC BoG was held however she said the meeting was confidential. “I can’t share details of the meeting”, she added.
When asked whether her services were terminated following orders of the Punjab government as she was serving on reemployment Dr Phailbus said KC was an autonomous institution and matters pertaining to appointment of principal were handled by its BoG. “I am still serving as principal of KC”, she concluded.
The News tried to seek comments of Dr Alexander John Malik however he could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
