KARACHI, Aug 17: The Federation of All-Pakistan Universities’ Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) has expressed concern over the government’s decision to implement the recommendations of the steering committee on higher education.

In a statement, secretary of the FAPUASA, Sarwar Nasim, said that it was shocking to learn that the government has accepted the proposals of the steering committee amidst strong opposition by teachers, students, parents, intelligentsia and the public.

He said the proposals, if implemented, would lead to the demise of public sector universities, which are the only hope for the poor but intelligent students to get higher education in various disciplines of science and technology.

He urged President Pervez Musharraf to give a sympathetic consideration to the concerns and apprehensions raised by the teachers’ community and other quarters. Giving an approval for the higher education recommendations in its present form would prove a serious blow to the public sector universities in the country, he maintained.