KARACHI: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association-Sindh (Fapuasa-Sindh) has expressed its concern over the selection process initiated by the government to choose candidates for the post of vice chancellors.

Speaking to Dawn on Friday, teacher representatives said that it was quite upsetting to see individuals without any academic excellence and illustrious research background being interviewed for the post and the government was violating assurances it had given to university teachers over this matter.

“In complete disregard to the promises the government officials had made with us last year, retired bureaucrats and people without a distinguished research background are being called for interviews to select the heads of Sindh University, Jamshoro,” said President Fapuasa-Sindh Dr Syed Usman Ali Shah and teacher at the NED University of Engineering and Technology.

He also raised objections over the search committee and said the government’s insistence to continue with people having no illustrious research career was another violation of the agreement made with the teachers.

“We had asked them to make those people part of the committee that have distinguished academic background. But this hasn’t been done. If the government continues to ignore our demands in the appointment of vice chancellors, we will launch a protest movement,” he warned.

Prof Shah regretted that the government didn’t take steps to amend the Sindh Universities (Amendment) Act, 2013, despite giving assurances to the teachers in various meetings.

Vice president Fapuasa-Sindh Dr Azhar Ali Shah said that Sindh University had no permanent vice chancellor for the past one year, though there had been two acting heads.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2015

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