Number of Sindh universities without regular VC rises to six

Another university in Sindh was deprived of a regular vice chancellor on Tuesday, thus the number of universities deprived of vice chancellors in Sindh will now be 6.

On Tuesday, the four-year tenure of Vice Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri came to an end but his extension was rejected. However, an acting VC was not appointed there either. According to Secretary Boards and Universities Abbas Baloch, the names of two senior professors including Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri have been sent for the post of acting vice chancellor for the Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam.

Currently, the universities in Sindh that are deprived of vice chancellors include Sheikh Ayaz University Shikarpur, Larkana University, University of Sufism Bhit Shah, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University of Law and Agriculture University Tando Jam, while the four- year tenure of Vice Chancellor Sindh University Dr. Siddique Kalhoro will also complete on January 22. The summary for the extension of his second tenure was rejected by the chief minister.

According to the new government policy, no vice chancellor will be directly given a second term and will have to reapply for a second term and approach the search committee. Responsible sources told The News that advertisements for the appointment of bureaucrat vice chancellors in Sindh universities have been stopped. Now, after the cabinet decision, the law department will be consulted to legalize the path of appointments of bureaucrat vice chancellors in universities, and then after the Sindh Assembly amends the Universities Act, an advertisement will be given for the appointment of VCs.

Karachi University Teachers Society President Dr. Mohsin Ali said that non-PhD and bureaucrat VCs are not acceptable at any cost. We will strongly oppose this. In this regard, a protest programme is being organized with teachers of universities across Sindh.

He said that if bureaucrats were so good, the condition of Sindh’s roads, transport, trains, electricity, water, sewerage, government hospitals, and government schools would be ideal. He said that when bureaucrats can be appointed VC, professors should also be appointed as secretaries in grade 22.

Dr. Mohsin Ali said that if good VCs are not being found, why don’t the chief minister of Sindh follow the advice of President Asif Ali Zardari, who had written to the CM to remove the domicile condition for the post of vice chancellor so that professors and educationists from all over the country and the world can apply and at the same time make the age limit 65 years like the federation and other provinces so that experienced and qualified people can also become candidates for the post.