LAHORE: The Punjab University has raised the limit on faculty members’ prescribed workload from three to five courses, prompting concerns among academics that the heavier teaching burden could leave teachers with less time for lecture preparation, student supervision and research.
The university, however, has justified the increase on the grounds that the revised five-course ceiling would help ensure quality teaching.
The notification, available with Dawn, showed that the university had revised workload rules for both BPS and TTS faculty with effect from Fall 2026.
For BPS faculty, the prescribed workload remains nine credit hours for lecturers and assistant professors, six for associate professors and professors, and three for chairpersons, directors, principals and deans. However, teachers can now be paid for classes taught beyond their prescribed workload for up to five courses, compared with the previous limit of three courses.
The same five-course ceiling has also been introduced for TTS faculty, replacing the previous provision under which they could teach extra classes equivalent to up to two-thirds of their normal workload, subject to departmental conditions and prior approval of the vice chancellor.
PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah told Dawn that the increase in the workload was made on the recommendations of the Deans’ Committee and the Semester Implementation Committee. He said the committees were of the view that the additional workload could be managed without compromising the quality of education or research.
Academics, however, questioned the rationale for increasing the teaching burden, saying the move could adversely affect both teaching standards and research output. They added that the revised workload appeared to be linked to a shortage of faculty and argued that the university should recruit more teachers instead of relying on existing faculty to take additional courses.
“Teachers need adequate time not only to deliver lectures but also to prepare them, supervise students and conduct research,” they said, warning that excessive teaching assignments could ultimately undermine the quality of education at the university.
Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2026
