KARACHI, May 19: Strong apprehensions were expressed by the teachers of the University of Karachi regarding the recommendations of the “Task Force on Improvement of Higher Education In Pakistan”.

The Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS), in a meeting held to discuss the recommendations in the presence of secretary of the Task Force, Dr Tariq Bannuri, who was specially invited for the occasion, maintained that the recommendations were aimed at undermining the autonomy of the public sector universities in Pakistan.

Dr Bannuri explained the circumstances under which the idea of Task Force was mooted and justified the recommendations which, he said, were aimed at bringing about real and positive changes in the system of higher education in the country.

Referring to the apprehensions among the university’s teachers, Dr Bannuri said it might be because of the fact that during the process of the finalisation of the recommendations the representatives of the teachers were not taken into confidence.

A senior professor pointed out that the recommendations were for the public sector universities, but only six universities from all over the country were represented on the Task Force and the rest of the members were either from the private sector universities or from other organisations.

Another teacher was of the opinion that the change must be within the existing structure as a structural change would lead to a chaotic situation.—APP