ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: A number of senior teachers of Quaid-i- Azam University (QAU) are opting for private universities due to better salary package and working conditions, sources told Dawn.

They said with the increase in the number of private degree- awarding institutions in the last few years, teachers took no time in quitting their regular government services for lucrative packages. On the other hand, public-sector universities are fast losing quality teachers, adversely affecting educational standards.

Director, Area Study Centre, Dr Rasool Bakhsh Rais and chairman, Economics department, Dr Abid Barki of the QAU have already joined Lahore University of Management Students (LUMS), a private-sector university, known for its quality, but costly education.

Three senior professors of the QAU have completed their negotiations with two private-sector universities and will soon be leaving the varsity.

When contacted, the newly-elected Academic Staff Association (ASA) president, Dr Dushka Syed, confirmed that some of the best teachers in the country, who fortunately happened to be part of the QAU faculty, were leaving the varsity.

“I think they are very much justified in taking such decisions, as they are being offered lucrative salary packages, and have the right to give their families a better life,” she said.

Dr Syed parried a question when asked to name the teachers who were planning to leave the QAU, adding, this was an area where the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has virtually failed to hold back best teachers in the public-sector universities.

In response to a question, she said TTS and Foreign Faculty Hiring projects of the commission were creating serious frustration among the incumbent faculty.

Under these schemes, there will be a huge difference between the salary packages of regular teachers and those who will be engaged under the new schemes.

The commission is busy in making things complicated, and teachers uncertain of their future are preferring to join the private sector due to better remunerations plus working conditions.

One of the worst repercussions, the country would be facing in times to come is un-bridgeable gulf between government-run and private sector universities in terms of education standards, cost of education and quality teachers, she added.