HYDERABAD: Vice chancellors of 24 public sector universities of Sindh have appealed to the province’s chief minister and prime minister through separate letters to allocate additional funds for the cash-strapped varsities and feared the federal government’s decision to stop funding provincially-chartered universities might force them to raise students’ fees manifolds and discontinue hostel and transport facilities.

In joint letters sent to the chief minister as well as the prime minister the copies of which were obtained by Dawn on Wednesday, the VCs feared if the universities were forced to take drastic measures to raise funds, it might result in unrest and agitation among students, academic staff and employees.

They said in the letter to the CM that the federal government’s decision was not only wrong and against national interest but also illegal and unconstitutional.

They said that Sindh government had increased recurring and development budget for the universities and the chief minister had written a letter to prime minister in 2022 not to reduce budget of higher education and in that year the federal government did not cut their budget, maintaining it at Rs65bn.

But the federal finance ministry decided in May this year to stop funding to provincially chartered universities and allocated Rs25bn only for federal universities which meant Sindh’s public sector varsities which had expected to receive over Rs16bn from HEC would not be getting these grants, they said.

They said the universities would be forced to raise students’ fees manifolds and shut down hostels and transport system, which might hit hard bright students from humble backgrounds and low-income families.

They stated that Council for Common Interests had decided that federal government would fund recurring and development expenditures of universities till next NFC. The CCI’s said on page two of summary four: “The council approved financing for current expenditure of universities hitherto will be picked by federal government till period of current NFC Award. Federal government will during this period also pick up development expenditure of universities depending upon resources available with federal government.”

Besides, the letter contended, presidential ordinance (HEC Ordinance 2002) clearly mentioned funding was responsibility of the federal government, which was further substantiated by CCI and the 7th NFC event after 18th Constitutional Amendment (mentioned above).

The VCs informed the chief minister that looking at current scenario of financial crises in the country it would be a wise decision to enhance investment in education, especially in higher and technical education as it would quickly bear fruit.

Given the severity of the situation, they requested, the matter be taken up with the prime minister and federal finance minister to restore and enhance budget of public sector universities of Sindh.

They said that in case the federal government was unable due to any reason to release the budget to the provincial universities, Sindh government should graciously allocate additional budget for the universities during current year.

In the letter to the prime minister, the VCs expressed serious concern over stoppage of federal government’s grant to provincially-chartered universities of the country inclusive of 29 varsities of Sindh.

They said the federal government had provided over Rs13bn as a recurring grant to universities of Sindh through HEC which had been frozen since 2018. “We hope the new government under your leadership will take necessary measures to support the universities and higher education along with improvements which your government has started bringing in other sectors,” read the letter.

They said the universities were providing access to higher education to bright minds from poor families, who could not afford their cost of education thus raising fees to that level was not an option. A multifold increase in student fees would create risk of youth unrest and agitation which the country could not afford at this stage, they said.

They urged the prime minister to issue urgent instructions to Finance Division to restore and enhance federal grants to the universities including public sector universities of Sindh and provide funds based on need determined by HEC Islamabad and finance division jointly or at least Rs16bn to the universities so that they might not go into default.

Funds’ stoppage slammed

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Academic Staff Society of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto University, Nawabshah, condemned on Wednesday the federal government’s decision to cut budget for the province’s universities.

A press statement issued by the society highlighted current financial struggles of some universities, which were already finding it difficult to pay salaries to staff. The recent budget cuts would exacerbate the financial problems, putting both employees and students at risk, it said.

The faculty at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University urged the government to refrain from interfering with higher education and demanded clarification from both the federal and provincial governments, it said.

It said the society would observe a black day at the university on Thursday in solidarity with the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2024