Restriction on PhD candidates
THIS is with reference to the indigenous PhD fellowship programme offered by the Higher Education Commission.
Defining terms and conditions, the HEC clearly states that “an awardee would obtain study leave from his employer to join the institution of his study on a full-time basis.
This is mandatory”.
According to service rules, employees of the Sindh Education Department, including college teachers, are granted study leave along with salary for a period of not more than two years. The additional period will be granted as extraordinary leave without salary.
How will it be possible to complete M.Phil, followed by a PhD, in two years? It requires at least four to five years.
The HEC also offers a monthly stipend of Rs13,000 which was initially less than this.
How will a recipient feed his family and meet educational expenses of his children once two years are completed. His salary will be blocked by the Education Department and he will then have to rely on the meagre stipend of the HEC.
Moreover, the standard study leave, with pay in public-sector universities, is four to five years.
The HEC and the Sindh Education Department should increase study leave with pay up to five years.
SANAULLAH RUSTAMANI
Hyderabad
What does one expect? Have his cake and eat it too? I think it is more than enought what has been given by HEC. If one expects a better future after getting a PHD then he/she has to do some compromises. The rule is if Gvernment give them simething, they must also chip in their share. Anyway, I think it will be better that these scholarships are given to younger/unmarried people who will have more time to offer their services to the community after finishing their PHD. Why would these be given to 50 years old family men who will get so much money and then retire soon after getting their PHD.
Mr. Rustamani,
Please be aware of the difference between stipend and salary. Also, life is full of choices. Every choice has its consequences and benefits. I am sure the benefits of a PHD in your life outweigh the costs associated wiith the hardship associated with getting one. Also, maybe your spouse can go get a job and offset some of the loss of income.
Good Luck on your noble journey.
The government simply dont care about theses complexities. The reason is that there is scarcity of competant people not only in politicians but also in Beureucracy. The policy is always formulated and also implemented by the beureucracy. The lack of such incompatibilities shows that there is incometancy in the Beureucracy. The competant authorites are requested to avoid these confusions in any policy making. This half cleared policy formulation is of no worth… I have remained and have also visited many public departmetns. Most of the time these policies are proposed and even formulated by the clerical staffs, the higher officer just bother to sign the presented documents. There is in need of extra care and research in making such kind of decision regarding the Education, especially the Higher Education.
Elsewhere i have written that Many students are studying under the Cultural Scholarship program under the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination Committe, Government of Pakistan. They were told that they will be paid some amount by the government. But thanks to the established Mafia that these students are in Dismay, and are facing serious concerns due to financial burdens. Most of the Studetns that i know are married and they have quit their Jobs back in Pakistan while pursuing these Scholarships. They also have to support their families to some extent. If the government or the concerned authorities do not want to sort out these issues then they must stop these kind of Educational Initiative in the best interest of avoiding confusion. I mean in the start they must make it clarify that what will be the future scenario.
These both examples shows that There is lack of competant people in concerned departments who dont know how to deal with the issues and how to sort out these issues of prime concerns. They simply are filling the blanks by coming office early in the mourning and looking back after 2 PM..
The facility of two years leave with full salary and then stipend of s13000/- pm is the maximum one can expect from a poor country. A serious scholar is expected not to expend his family until he acieves M.Phil and P.hd. He has to devote his full time on research whish is difficult for a married man.If all the funding comes from a co or government perhaps he will not be serious in completing assignments in shortest possible time. He can obtain loan from banks also.
Agreed as long as a student is performing good in his studies he should be allowed to continue any other means of earning….. Set a standard or a minimum GPA, failling to acheive that he should not be allowed to continue his job and study on whole time basis