LAST week there was disturbing news on TV regarding the appointment of the new vice chancellor of Pakistan’s prime medical university, Dow Medical University.

The interviews were held a few weeks ago on the day when one of its members, the chairman of the HEC, was expectedly taken away by the law-enforcement authorities on various charges. The interviews were conducted by Dr Azra Pechoho, the chancellor of SZABIST, Mr Iqbal Durrani, and Mr Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, a veteran educationist with extensive experience as vice chancellor of the University of Sindh.

Surprisingly, the interview results were not announced on the day as, perhaps, they did not suit the authorities concerned and an interim arrangement was made to run the institution. The interviews were held again a few days later but this time without any of the members of the previous panel. Not surprisingly, the most deserving candidates were ignored.

Pakistan at its inception was a great country for two reasons: the high standard of education and the great vision of our great leader, the founder of the nation.

There was a time when our graduates, especially doctors, were whisked away by Western countries where they not only helped the host country with great dedication but also earned a good name for Pakistan. Sadly, today our graduates are looked down upon and rejected. The reason is that the whole educational system has been systematically sabotaged and ruined. Merit has been done away with by appointing teachers, professors and vice chancellors on the basis of political affiliation, nepotism and corruption.

Prof M.A. Noorani

Ex-head, Department of Surgery

Dow Medical College

Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2015

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