Karachi university teachers test Controversy Controversy regarding teachers test persists at KU

Karachi university teachers test Controversy

Controversy regarding teachers test persists at KU
Karachi, Jan 26: The controversy with regard to allowing the permanent faculty at University of Karachi (KU) to enroll in the MS/PhD programmes without appearing in the entrance test continues to persist.

The controversy started when the Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS) asked the Vice Chancellor KU Prof. Qasim Raza Pirzada to allow the permanent faculty to be enrolled for MS/PhD programmes without appearing in the entrance test. The VC agreed to the demand, however, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) warned the university that if the teachers were exempted from appearing in the entrance test, then the HEC would not recognise the degrees of such teachers.

Chancellor KU and Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat ul Ebad also took note of the controversy and called it an issue that should not have cropped up at all.

In the meantime, two former students of Department of Mass Communication have written a letter to the KU VC Prof. Qasim requesting him to revert the decision about the tests. They wrote that 'it will taint the name and reputation of our alma mater'. The students further maintained that they had no intention to 'drag our alma mater and taint its name in the courts of law'. A source, though, revealed that the former students do intend to file a petition against the decision.

In this regard President KUTS Dr Abid Hasnain said that they are not against the tests, and of course the teachers are 'not afraid of the tests', but 'our stand is that the teachers should not be taking the tests with their students, and secondly a teacher that has passed his examinations and has been recruited through the selection board should not be humiliated in this manner'. Dr Hasnain challenged those who could tell him if any university in the world was testing its teachers before they began their higher education.

Moreover, the move by KUTS was vehemently opposed by deans of all faculties, citing it a move to deteriorate the educational standards of the university. A considerable number of KU teachers said on Monday revealed that they had no objection in appearing in the tests, and that actually they had taken the test that were held last Sunday.

Meanwhile, the dean of a faculty, requesting anonymity, confirmed that many teachers had indeed taken the test and the he (the dean) could give the exact number of the teachers who appeared in the test, on Tuesday.