NEARLY a month and a half later, the crisis that has brought higher education in Sindh to a standstill only seems to be getting worse. This is despite the existence of some fairly straightforward solutions that could quickly be implemented if the provincial administration really wanted to solve the problem. Public universities across the province remained closed in protest this week — Sindh University had already been closed for over a month — and the issue, sparked by the murder of an SU professor in January and the subsequent demands for the removal of SU’s unpopular vice chancellor, has now descended into a series of ugly legal battles between the faculty and administration. It is time to take some simple steps that can quickly resolve the problem and get Sindh’s young men and women back into their university classrooms.

For one, the SU VC has clearly lost the confidence of teachers and students for a variety of reasons ranging from procedural problems with his appointment to his alleged nepotism, corruption and mismanagement during this and previous tenures. The provincial administration is apparently concerned that his removal will open the floodgates for other universities demanding the removals of their VCs, but the degree of mistrust among this particular faculty, and the fact that his removal is the primary sticking point in this tussle, should be recognised as a unique case. Some speculate that political links or corruption are behind his continued retention; whether or not this is true, this reputation confirms that it will be impossible for a working relationship to continue. Once this major demand is met, other demands can be negotiated for a mutually acceptable position. The faculty has called for a judicial commission to investigate the murder, replacing police and Rangers with university security on campus and the restoration of student unions. It might not be possible or desirable to meet all of these fully. But by removing the VC, important progress — and a demonstration that the government stands for competent and honest university administrations — can be made.