August 01, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 16, 1428

ISLAMABAD, July 31: With the endorsement of Tenure Track System (TTS) by the Quaid-i-Azam University’s (QAU) syndicate, it has got a new performance-based high salaries service structure for the faculty, Dawn has learnt.

The syndicate, highest decision making body of the university, during its meeting held on July 28 unanimously approved TTS for the selected faculty members.

The selection board of the university had recommended 64 teachers for the TTS to the syndicate, which has approved all the nominees, who would be serving under a different set of conditions, unlike the existing Basic Pay Scale (BPS) service rules.

Though so far over 30 universities had introduced TTS, but the QAU was the only university where 64 faculty members have fulfilled the strict criteria to avail hefty salaries. In other universities very few teachers have been able to qualify for the TTS. The HEC had developed a strict criterion for the TTS, and teachers who have established research credentials both at national and international levels could apply for the new service structure. Under the TTS, a professor would be able to get up to Rs1,75000 per month salary.

Back in 2003, when the Higher Education Commission (HEC) introduced TTS for the teachers of the public sector universities, the QAU faculty refused to accept it and wanted changes in its various clauses.

Unlike other universities, the QAU wanted TTS according to its own needs, and subsequently the HEC agreed to implement it according to the university’s peculiar requirement.

After extended negotiations with the HEC, the university had been able to keep a special provision for reverting to the regular service structure in case a teacher did not feel comfortable with the new system.

Talking to Dawn, a senior professor of the university said, with the approval of the TTS, the QAU would be able to retain quality teachers. Of late, due to better service structure offered by the private sector universities, teachers from the public sector universities were joining the former.