SAHIWAL: The e-transfer policy introduced by the Higher Education Department (HED) in more than 800 public sector colleges across Punjab has created a gender imbalance in the allocation of male and female-sanctioned teaching posts.

According to the HED data, the number of posts reserved for male teachers has reduced drastically over the past five years following female teachers posting against vacant posts available at male graduate colleges where the four-year BS programme has been introduced.

The e-transfer allowed another shift as several male-only institutions were practically converted into co-education colleges, sending a wave of concern among male teachers whose strength has already reduced to 40 per cent as compared to 60 per cent of female teachers.

The HED originally categorised its college cadre into two distinct groups -- male general cadre and female general cadre. But now, it is categorised as male colleges, female colleges and co-education colleges numbering 191, 431 and 81, respectively.

A 2020 HED notification under a four-tier formula allocated 11,194 posts for male staff and 12,012 for females. Male teachers were primarily assigned to boys colleges, while female teachers were employed at women’s colleges.

In February 2021, the HED renamed degree colleges as associate colleges and upgraded many as graduate colleges where the BS-4 was launched.

This led to conversion of several male graduate colleges into co-education institutions, with around 1,200 male-sanctioned posts occupied by females.

Earlier data says out of 825 public sector colleges in Punjab, 377 are boys and 448 girls colleges.

After the e-transfer policy introduction, the data available on the HED website shows that the number of male-only colleges has dropped to 191, while 81 have been converted into co-educational institutions with female colleges strength remains the same -- 431.

After the creation of new category of co-education colleges, male staff has access to 5,549 posts only, compared to 11,194 posts under the 4-tier formula.

On the other hand, 431 female-only colleges remain unaffected by these changes.

Female teachers are now eligible to apply for both male and female-sanctioned posts. HED Additional Secretary Azam Khan acknowledged the gender imbalance fact but added it existed even before the introduction of the new e-transfer policy. He said the HED was reviewing the process under the newly-launched e-transfer portal at its end and if this was found correct, it would be undone.

Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association President Faiza Raana also acknowledges this fact and says posting females against male cadre vacant posts will ultimately reduce male cadre seats in colleges creating a gender imbalance. She said as a policy, the PPLA was not opposed to appointing female teachers in co-educational or male colleges but they should be stopped from occupying male cadre seats.

“Rather, the HED should transfer their vacant posts to co-educational institutions.”

She said if HED continued with this policy, there would be no male seats available in male colleges when they get promotion from 17 to 18, 18 to 19 and 19 to 20.

“Hence, they have to be dislocated as HED did with 455 college teachers of 2012 badges were promoted from 17-18 recently.”

A senior officer inside DPI Colleges, Lahore, confirmed the gender imbalance has already been created and it is widening now.

PPLA’s Lahore Division President Hasan Rasheed claimed the HED had also decided to appoint female principals at male colleges as 48 per cent of principal posts were lying vacant across Punjab. “This will further disturb gender balance,” he warned.

Prof Arif, a former leader of PPLA, questioned under what rules and regulations the HED had created the co-education category? He said the PPSC selection was done for men and women colleges and not for co-education colleges.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024