THIS is with reference to the article ‘Pakistan’s universities at 75’ (Aug 13). I absolutely agree with the contents and the general description of the academic atmosphere in universities across the country.

The article rightly states that Pakistan inherited only the University of the Punjab, Lahore, which was one of the 16 universities in British India in 1947. The university has been an intellectual asset which produced great minds in its golden times.

Genuine education is the only key to individual and national progress. It is unfortunate that corruption, bad governance, nepotism, favouritism and despotism are the underpinning values that have corroded the foundation of our universities. Although the article discussed the elements of decadence and intellectual bankruptcy in our universities, it did not put the responsibility on those who are really behind this sorry state of affairs. Are politicians, vice-chancellors (VCs), teachers or students the causes of the poor state of our universities? Or is it something else?

In the end, the article placed three wishes before the genie of Aladdin’s lamp to improve the conditions of our universities: first, professors’ fraternity turns to be ethical with academic excellence, intellectual integrity, merit and passion for work. Second, people equip themselves with the latest knowledge of all genres. Third, the teachers would impart student-centred education to produce rational, critical, analytical and creative graduates.

I would like to extend the wish-list. The universities need autonomy and they need to be free from political interventions. The appointment of VCs in the universities must be on the sole basis of merit. If the most senior serving judges can be the chief justice of high courts and the Supreme Court without any political intervention, why the same formula should not apply while appointing

VCs in universities?

If the state has any sense of priority regarding the critical domain of education, the political bargaining in the appointing process related to VCs should be shunned.

Besides, there is an unbridgeable difference between lower education and higher education. There is need for some sort of an education commission that may cater to both the streams in the centre and its respective chapters in the provinces. We have the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which may be dealing with higher education, but without any coordination with the lower education stream. This is illogical.

Let us hope for the sake of the country that the genie of Aladdin’s lamp would turn our universities into places of scholarly discourse, centres of excellence and creation of knowledge for the bright future of Pakistan.

Saad Malook
Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2022