Fapuasa Sindh chapter voices concern over ‘dismal state of education’

The Sindh chapter of the All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association—Sindh Chapter held a meeting at the Sindh Agriculture University on Wednesday, expressing concerns over government negligence of higher education and the dismal state of education in the province.

The meeting was presided over by Fapuasa Sindh chapter president Liaquat Ali Tunio, and the proceedings of the meeting were run by its general secretary, Asif Hussain Samo. Pakistan Fapuasa president Prof Nek Muhammad Shaikh participated as special guest in the meeting.

The meeting unanimously condemned “victimisation of faculty members at the hands of VCs”, including the VC of QUEST Nawabshah, who was said to have stopped the salary of Assistant Prof Ali Asghar Chandio over the last 10 months.

The Sindh chapter of association demanded that such transfers and postings must be cancelled and Chandio's salary paid up. It was decided that a committee would meet the VCs and other authorities to resolve the matter.

The members of the association demanded lifting the ban on new appointments. In this regard, a delegation of Fapuasa will also meet the Universities and Boards Department secretary and will write a letter to the chief minister of Sindh.

They expressed concerns over the dismal financial and administrative condition of universities in Sindh and demanded an increase in the budget for the universities to meet the crisis. The provincial chapter also rejected the condition of post-PhD experience for the appointment of associate professors and professors.

The condition of an HEC-approved supervisor should be cancelled for the supervision of thesis. Apart from that, it was urged that since the integrity of the VC search committee had been questioned, the government should revamp the committee.