FAISALABAD, Jan 10: Despite chancellor's instructions, none of the university in the public sector could formally establish 'graduate schools of studies' for effectively monitoring and completion of the Ph.D programmes.

According to sources, the chancellor had directed the universities to set up schools for overseeing and monitoring PhD programmes. They said the instructions were issued during a presentation of the faculty strength of the universities which depicted very sorry state of affairs and suffering of students for want of PhD teachers in almost all the subjects being taught at the university and postgraduate level.

Taking notice of the shortage of PhD scholars and poor performance of the universities, the chancellor directed the vice-chancellors to take appropriate steps for the establishment of graduate schools.

The Higher Education Commission also supported the chancellor's order and assured provision of scholarships to outstanding students. The HEC had also defined a mechanism for the release of funds for scholarship and the universities were directed to prepare progress reports and fund utilization reports for every scholar.

It may be recalled that functions to be performed by the proposed graduate schools were at present being performed by the Board of Advanced Studies and Research.