THIS is with reference to the report ‘Lenders ask govt to stop funding public universities’ (Oct 15). The news surprised many because it is disappointing to note that such recommendations are coming from lenders who are not natives.

It is said that illiteracy is more harmful than financial poverty for a society. The country is passing through a financial crunch owing to years of poor governance marked by wrong priorities as well as inappropriate decisions. Should we destroy our future, too?

Institutions of higher education groom the young generation by imparting quality education and training the students for future roles, and the investment ultimately benefits the country. The institutions of higher education are essentially government think tanks.

Globally, countries have heavily invested in the higher education sector that has produced matching results. The first and foremost step public-sector universities need is the restoration of their autonomy which has remained excessively compr-omised over the years.

Political governments and bureaucratic interventions have severely disturbed the student-faculty-employee ratio, leaving these institutions paying more to the non-productive staff. This situation has, on the one hand, caused disappointment and distress among the faculty, while, on the other hand, it has also severely dented the financial position of these institutions.

If the government is serious about improving the financial health of public-sector universities, it should take an inclusive approach by engaging with the relevant stakeholders — students, faculty and university administrations — and find a win-win solution. To stop funding the seats of higher learning, mind you, is to shoot oneself in the foot.

Dr Nayyar Hussain Mirjat
Jamshoro

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024