KARACHI, Jan 15: The provincial education department is contemplating to impose some new conditions on private varsities and institutes conducting postgraduate research programmes.

Under the plan, it is likely that private institutes would be barred from conducting doctorate programme, while varsities would be required to ensure standard of the thesis prior to awarding any MPhil or PhD degree.

Sources in the education department said that a number of applications from government institutions' teachers, seeking permission for carrying out research works at private institutes leading to award of MPhil or PhD degrees, have been received at the department. The applicants had indicated that they wanted to take admission and carry out research works at some private institutions in the evening, when they would be off from their duty.

According to a Sindh government notification, each teacher of the education department holding PhD degree is entitled to get Rs5,000 additional per month for possessing a doctorate degree.

The decision to award PhD allowance to employees of the education department was taken in line with the directives of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. As per decision, Rs5,000 will be paid per month to researchers, who are imparting quality works in the field of Science, Social Science, Business Management, Information Technology and etc, added a source.

It was learnt that education department officials were apprehending a temptation for the private institutions to start PhD programmes due to demand of government employees.

On recommendations framed at a meeting of its Charter Inspection and Evaluation Committee (CIEC), the education department is now in process of getting approval of the provincial chief minister for making further amendments to Ordinances or Acts, which were already promulgated or enforced by the government in the case of existing varsities and institutes that award degrees independently.

The CIEC resolution in question was passed on Jan7 in its meeting, chaired by Dr S.M. Qureshi and attended by Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui and Dr Nurul Haq. The resolution states:

"Considering for the degree awarding role of the chartered institute and university in the private sector, it was resolved that the chartered institute in the private sector be restricted to the award of Bachelor and Master degrees only, whereas chartered universities in the private sector be allowed to award MPhil and PhD degrees with the condition that they will appoint two foreign examiners to review their thesis in the case of each candidate and strictly follow the HEC instructions in this regard."

It was being apprehended that some of the private institutes, following the increase in demand of postgraduate research degrees, would ultimately be involved in PhD degree programmes without having required infrastructure and quality equipments and quality human resources.

A senior educationist observed that conducting a research work was a full time activity requiring complete devotion and concentration. Quality or any meaningful research could not be carried out in spare time, he said, adding that government sector universities, including the University of Karachi, take four to six years to award a doctorate degree.

Citing previous examples of misconduct in awarding some essential teachers' courses, including the BEd or MEd, an official in the education department said that a number of government teachers would be able to produce degrees acquired from government or private institutions under false arrangements.

He said it was feared that some of the private institutions might start awarding doctorate degrees within two or three years to part-time researchers, thus, causing damage to the real spirit of government for developing a research culture in the country. Due to the irresponsible act of some institutes, the government would again have to give PhD allowance to non-deserving persons as well, he added.