PESHAWAR, Feb 1: The University of Peshawar launched the B.A/B.Sc (honours) programme without fulfilling procedural requirements and preparing syllabus for the course, according to sources.

Despite complications and lack of ground work, Vice Chancellor Lt-Gen (retired) Mumtaz Gul used his discretionary powers under section 13(3) of the University Act and ordered faculties and concerned departments to start the new programme.

Senior university staff members said that after using his powers, the VC was expected to refer the matter to the syndicate for approval to amend the existing rules and regulations. However, the matter was yet to be referred to it, they pointed out.

"The VC introduced the new programme without making changes in the existing regulations. After recommendations by the Academic Council the matter should be referred to the Syndicate to modify the regulations subsequently," a member of the council said.

The B.A/B.Sc (honours) programme was started in Oct 2004, but the VC is yet to refer the issue to the Syndicate to amend the regulations despite the fact that it had met twice after the implementation of the new programme.

The staff members said if the Syndicate disagreed with the VC, the administration would reverse the programme which would not be good for the image of the university.

Some members of the Academic Council had advised that before implementation of the programme it was necessary to modify the regulations, prepare new syllabus and provide infrastructure, but the VC did not pay attention.

Sources said the matter re-surfaced in the Academic Council meeting held on Dec 28, 2004. "We told the VC to follow rules and regulations but Gen Mumtaz is running the institution in his own style," one senior teacher said.

On the other hand, the university administration defended Gen Mumtaz's decision, saying that under the act, the VC could use his discretionary powers keeping in view the urgency of the circumstances.

Section 13(3) of the University Act says: "The Vice-Chancellor may in an emergency which in his opinion requires immediate action, take such action as he may consider necessary and shall as soon as possible report his action to the officer, authority or other body which in the ordinary course, would have dealt with the matter."

When approached, university Registrar Sher Behadur said the council had already approved the honours degree programme which would be submitted to the Syndicate for approval soon.

He acknowledged that there were certain shortcomings, including preparation of new syllabus, but these would be overcome within next two years. Initially, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had proposed four-year integrated bachelor degree programme to bring at par country's public sector universities with those in Europe and America.

Under the proposed four-year integrated plan, students would be taught two years' degree courses in their respective colleges after intermediate and would study two more years in the universities.

The University of Punjab raised some technical flaws in the proposed integrated system and statutory bodies of the public sector universities also opposed it. The NWFP government through a notification held the programme in abeyance till further orders, an official of the university confirmed.

But the university introduced its own programme. According to the programme, students who had already done their B.A/B.Sc would spend two years in honours and one year in final in the university.

Sources said other public sector universities, including the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and the University of Punjab were running two years master degree programme.

Similarly, the University of Peshawar did not start the new degree system in its affiliated institutions in the province due to lack of infrastructure. Teachers said the so-called B.A/B.Sc honours programme would not facilitate students because new syllabus had not been provided.

They said the university administration had directed faculties and concerned departments to go ahead with the previous syllabus until new teaching material was prepared.