‘Campus crisis in Sindh’: the other view
THIS is apropos Zubeida Mustafa’s article ‘Campus crisis in Sindh’ (July 25). Actually, the dispute between office-bearers of the Sindh University Teachers Association and the vice-chancellor occurred due to the fact that the latter had been insisting upon those professors who had acquired doctorate degrees to take classes and prepare students for the forthcoming examinations.
Ms Mustafa gave the impression of teachers being the academic source of the university while in fact the teachers displayed an unprofessional attitude and lack of interest. Some of them who had violated the university code were subjected to disciplinary action and their services were terminated by the syndicate.
Vice Chancellor Dr Nazir A. Mughal after availing himself of his leave resumed duty on June 29 during the ongoing semester examinations, and his opponents fully utilised their efforts to disturb the examinations. Therefore, Mr Mughal announced summer vacations, expecting that the examinations would continue as per schedule. However, the decision for the summer
vacations had been taken earlier by the previous administration.
The media and students are witness that the semester examinations continued till July 9 without any gaps.
The incident of firing on two lecturers, i.e. Dr Malah and Ms Sindhu, took place in Karachi and it was condemned by the administration and a letter was immediately sent to the IGP for a detailed inquiry and arrest of the culprits.
The vice – chancellor also telephoned them to inquire about their welfare.
The law and order situation has been specifically mentioned as disorderly in 2010 which is contrary to fact, as it is quite peaceful since Dr Mughal’s resumption of office.
In case of grant of affiliation to the institutions, all prescribed rules and regulations have strictly been adhered to.
You should agree that it is not the heads of institutions but lecturers and professors who are the key factor in promoting higher education and inculcating the right spirit in the youth.
The university has already rejected the whitepaper of SUTA, an organisation which is not even registered. Dr Mughal had completed his full tenure as vice – chancellor from 1995 to 1998 and it is wrong to say that he was removed.
As far as examination forms are concerned, the allegation that candidates with zero attendance were allowed to appear in the examinations is concocted, as only short-listed candidates with the required attendance were cleared for the examinations.
MUHAMMAD NAWAZ NAREJO
Registrar
University of Sindh
Mr. Narejo explains rightly, as to add some more facts that present VC has taken some good steps for the bereaved family of Prof Channar, as the syndicate has approved Rs1 million for the heirs as a financial assistance.
The Syndicate approved the actions taken by the vice chancellor, including naming the department of microbiology after the murdered professor; offering two jobs to his children and waiving full fees of his two daughters.
The fact that bereaved family thanked the governor of Sindh and chancellor of the University for taking note of the incident and accepting a request made by the vice chancellor to hold a judicial inquiry into Prof Channar’s murder.
This is also a fact that enemies of education manoeuvred to weaponise the campuses. They put in practice the evil formula of “divide and rule” among the student political groups and that adversely affected the education and research activities on the campuses. It seems that those forces are again in action with the same subversive agenda to ruin the educational institutions in the province.