PESHAWAR: The administration of Islamia College University has extended the summer vacations till the mid of the current month to thwart a possible protest by the teachers over the issue of extension in the tenure of the vice-chancellor, according to sources.

The university would now re-open on September 16 instead of September 2. The three-year tenure of ICU Vice-chancellor Prof Habib Ahmed expired on July 28, but the government directed him on July 31to continue till the arrival of a regular VC.

The higher education department has issued a notification in this regard on July 31 that reads: “The Honourable, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/Chancellor, Islamia College Peshawar has been pleased to allow Prof Dr Habib Ahmad to continue as vice chancellor, Islamia College Peshawar w.e.f 29.07.2019, till arrival of regular vice chancellor, Islamia College Peshawar.”

VC terms renovation of hostel as one of reasons

“We had planned to convene general body meeting of teachers’ association on the first day of opening the university (September 2) after the summer vacations to take approval for launching protest against extension in the tenure of VC,” Dr Dilnawaz, the president of Teaching Staff Association ICU, told this scribe.

It is worth mentioning that all educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities are set to reopen on Monday (today) after summer vacations.

He said that extension of vacations till September 16 would disturb the academic calendar of the intermediate and bachelor of studies (BS) classes. He added that it was injustice with the students.

“It was expected that situation in the university will turn violent after assumption of classes,” said the president of teachers association.

A notification issued by the ICU administration before the summer vacations states: “It is notified for the information of all concerned that the teaching departments as well as constituent college of the Islamia College Peshawar will observe summer vacations with effect from 01-07-2019 to 30-08-2019.”

Dr Dilnawaz alleged that the provincial government t had given extension to the VC in violation of KP Universities Act, 2012. The teachers’ association has also challenged the government decision in Peshawar High Court.

Prof Habib Ahmed, when contacted, said that the decision to extend the summer vacations was taken by a high level committee of the university in his absence as he was on leave to perform Haj.

“I came to know about the decision when I returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Haj,” he said. The committee was headed by officiating VC Prof Naushad Khan and attended by all deans and head of the departments.

When asked about the reasons for extending the summer vacations, Prof Habib said that one of the reasons was repair and renovation of a hostel of the college that would accommodate 600 students. “The university will reopen after completion of repair and renovation of the hostel,” he added.

He said that Muharram was also started in which movement was difficult because of security situation. When asked that Muharram’s mourning processions would end on September 10 than why the college would reopen on September 16, he said that there were also other issues being faced by the administration.

Prof Habib dispelled the impression that summer vacations were extended due to fear of teachers’ protest over extension in his tenure. He said that his extension was under consideration from July 27 and everyone knew it in the university.

“I have convened a meeting on Monday (today) of deans and heads of departments to discuss this issue (extension in summer vacations),” he said.

Sources in the university said that remaining work on repair and renovation of the hostel would not be completed till September 17.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2019