PESHAWAR, March 13: University and college teachers on Wednesday criticized the proposed model university ordinance and asked the government to form a task force to consider the educational scenario in consultation with the stake-holders to bring about reforms in the sector.

Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, Peshawar  University Teachers Association President Arbab Khan Afridi said the ordinance had been drafted in the light of the recommendations of the Task Force for Higher Education, which was formed by the Musharraf government.

The task force was funded by the World Bank, which didn’t have any vision with regard to the local problems, he said.

The report of the task force mentioned that the cost of education would be reflected in the fees, which meant that only the rich would be able to get education after the imposition of the ordinance, he said and added that it fell short of the statutes required for a social contract among the parties.

Presidents of the Engineering University Teachers Association, Agriculture University Teachers Association, Islamia College Teachers Association and University Schools Teachers Association were also present.

Mr Afridi said the ordinance didn’t mention the appointment and  termination of services of teachers and other employees, pay structure, terms and conditions of their jobs, their duties and rights, salaries, security of jobs and the contract under which they would be required to work.

The government’s plea that those would be made part of the ordinance at a later stage was unacceptable to the teachers, he declared.

He said the ordinance had failed to touch the issue of selection board, because the government wanted to introduce contract system, which would ruin the education system.

According to him, the ordinance called for the introduction of admission on open domicile, which would affect the local students.