PESHAWAR, May 25: The academic standard is on the decline owing to the excessive use of substandard reading material at the university and college levels , students and teacher of the Peshawar University told Dawn.

The use of ‘made easy’ reading material available in the shape of cheap notes and guidebooks is on the rise, as it is considered to be a source which can bring success in the examinations, said a teacher.

“The question papers are always set on such a pattern that a student could easily get a first division by preparing selected topics as the majority of questions are repeated in the same context and style. Above all, the students have a 100 per cent choice to attempt the questions,” the teacher said.

A political science department student informed this correspondent that some teachers also prepared their lectures from substandard notes. “Most teachers in the university are fresh with masters degrees. They have obtained their degrees by studying substandard notes and now they teach the same to us,” said another student.

The notes are prepared by the teachers themselves, who prescribe them to their students, some students alleged and said the books were available in all major book shops.   The names of the inexperienced teachers who write the guidebooks are often withheld, a teacher said.

“Most of the time, the examination papers are set and checked by  the teachers who prepare the substandard reading material. In most cases, those students get good marks who attempt the  papers from the material prepared by the examiners. Such people are playing with the careers of the future generation,” maintained the teacher.

A retired university professor said that the problem with the University  of Peshawar was that the teachers always forced the students to cram the lessons from the low-quality notes prepared with a view to making fortunes at the cost of the students.

“The use of substandard published notes has been going on for decades. This suits the teachers as well as the students,” observed the professor.

Some university students and teachers also expressed their deep concern over the non-availability of books in the libraries. They said standard books on international politics, economics and philosophy were very expensive and they could not afford to buy them.

“Many times, we have recommended books which should be brought into the libraries but the authorities concerned paid no heed to our recommendations. Low salaries and the lack of books in libraries have left us with no option but to teach from low quality cheap books,” some teachers remarked.

Some teachers observed that semester system should be introduced to inculcate reading habits in the teachers and students. The question papers must carry at least 30 per cent objective type questions, so that the teachers and students concentrate on standard books, they said.

They said research assignments must be made compulsory in higher education.