KARACHI, Feb 10: The Arts faculty of the University of Karachi needs a complete overhaul in order to save its academic and administrative affairs from going into complete disarray, sources on the campus said.

It’s learnt that the faculty, which has already been failing to attract good students, was faced with the problem of imparting education to the available pupils in a meaningful way. In addition to making the courses of high studies in Arts more meaningful, there is a need to ensure a proper system of accountability and discipline for teachers as well, stressed the sources.

While lamenting the state of affairs, a senior teacher in the faculty called for modification in courses and syllabi in a way that the Arts graduates could cater to the needs of the society and economy as well. “The curriculum be revised with increased orientation towards the needs of the market, while new disciplines should be introduced and the existing teachers at the same time should also be made more efficient, update and interactive with the students,” added the teacher.

Referring to the shortcomings of teachers, the sources cited some examples of ‘gross’ negligence, which, according to them, were encouraging the inefficient teachers. It was viewed that a number of teachers at different departments were even not bothering to teach in the due number of teaching periods during a semester.

A number of incompetent and academically weak teachers had been inducted into the service on account of their political affiliation or their policy of toadyism. Many of the teachers are least interested in teaching and preferred to take up examination assignments which are available for almost throughout th year, as it brings extra and handsome amount of money, added the source.

It was due to the gross neglect by the people at the helm of affairs that senior teachers were also unwilling to undertake research works and other studies, maintained an official in the university administration, and maintained that teachers should keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in social science education.

Even teachers are not bothered to review their notes, which are circulated among every new batch of students who solely rely on the stuff for passing examinations, observed a final-year student.

The sources said that the departments of English and Urdu had been maladministered for the last many years and it was high time that the competent authority should take notice of the situation. At some other departments too, teachers come just for the sack of attendance otherwise there was no major interaction or debate on social issues between the teachers and the students.

It was learnt that a female teacher appointed as lecturer at a major department had not been able to keep herself in line with the required academic activities for years. The sources claimed that the teacher, who was appointed some ten years backed, always cared for earning all types of leaves, including special and study leaves, stretching over a period of four years, but the authorities had failed to take any measures to curb such incidents.

Observance of leniency in such cases was encouraging others, while on the other hand it was also causing concern among hard workers. In addition to failing to take her teaching assignments properly, “the teacher also lacked in researches and other academic related activities, but despite that, she is being considered for promotion to higher ranks,” added the source.

A keen observer maintained that even the foreign students, taking education in the Arts faculty, had to suffer sometime. A special class had to be arranged for the foreigners in the second semester at the department of English as they could not be imparted education in time during their first semester.

It was further learnt that a good number of students were still awaiting their results as the lecturer concerned had not been able to deliver the results of the last semester examination, despite the fact that new academic session commenced in January. The teacher of the Economics department till Friday had not submitted the results, confirmed one senior faculty member.

Chairpersons are on record that they are not consulted by the authorities, while reviewing or considering cases of promotion and move-over. Teachers are elevated or entertained, ignoring unsatisfactory and negative reports by their respective chairperson, added the sources.

About 5,000 students, including about 3,800 females, are taking Bachelor and Masters’ degree education at over two dozens departments in the Arts faculty.

There are some departments where the overall number of students is considerably very low, which must worry the KU administration and compel it for major modification and innovation in the courses taught in the Arts faculty.

If the university encouraged students for undertaking researches in the Arts, it would be true utilisation of resources, while on the other hand teachers could also be compelled to perform at their best by involving themselves in modern day issues and developments, concluded the teacher.