HYDERABAD: Seventeen vice chancellors (VCs) of Sindh’s public sector universities have sent a joint representation to Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director Dr Shaista Sohail, seeking an increase in the recurring grant for Sindh’s varsities in financial year (FY) 2021-22.

According to a copy of the representation obtained by Dawn on Thursday, the VCs say they understand that the HEC is very important for the country to have a long-term development in the era of knowledge economy and global competition, but higher education and youth are also priorities of the current federal government. A copy is also sent to Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood.

“We solicit your personal and considered support in averting a crisis in the higher education sector and institutions of the country in general and Sindh in particular which we are heading,” it says.

It says the financial crises would not only disrupt quality of higher education delivery and research, but would also create a permanent chaos among academia, researchers and students during FY 2021-22 onwards.

Also urge CM to enhance grant in provincial budget

The representation says: “You are aware that the federal government has reduced funding for higher education for FY 2020-21 which is Rs64bn, lower than previous year’s allocation of Rs65bn against bare minimum requirement of Rs103bn for 2019-20.”

It says the figure of Rs103bn was calculated by the HEC, finance division and federal government together. Furthermore, due to reduction in budget, the higher education institutions (HEIs) and universities, including those in Sindh, faced serious crises during the current financial year and the HEC is already aware of.

It says that most of the universities and the HEIs are unable to pay salaries and pensions, so one can imagine allocations of resources for students and research.

It says that as per news reports, the federal government is considering increasing salaries and pensions by 15-20 per cent in the forthcoming budget whereas the indicative budget ceiling (IBC) communicated to the HEC for next FY 2021-22 shows that the federal government has not increased budget for higher education.

It means the universities, which are already under over drafts/severe deficits of about 20-30pc, would have an additional deficit of 20pc, making an accumulated deficit of 50pc.

According to a need assessment done by the HEC for 17 varsities of Sindh, their estimated expenditure for 2021-22 is Rs31.059bn; of that R7.83bn comes from the HEC in the form of grant-in-aid.

The representation says the government increased staff salaries and pensions by 10pc in the past two years without any increase in university’s budget, which had resulted in overdrafts and liabilities for those universities.

It says that deficit does not count needs of the newly-established universities like BNB Women University, Sukkur; BBS University of Technology and Skill Development, Khairpur; Shaikh Ayaz University, Shikarpur; Shaheed Allah Bux University of Arts and Design, Jamshoro; Sufi University, Bhit Shah; GC University, Hyderabad; SBB University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences etc., and some of the sub campuses.

The VC request the HEC that recurring budget of public sector universities be increased from Rs7.83bn to Rs15bn. That would not only avert the forthcoming crises, but also help the universities and students to compete at the national and international levels and contribute significantly to the knowledge economy.

The VCs have also sent a separate communication to Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah, requesting him to give them some time for a briefing on financial issues of universities.

They have also requested the CM to increase recurrent grant of the universities in the provincial budget from Rs5bn to Rs15bn.

Grants to universities would become over Rs16bn if the pattern of the National Finance Commission is considered for allocations.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2021