Favouritism alleged in UoP lecturers’ recruitment

PESHAWAR: Nepotism has been alleged in the recruitment process of contract lecturers in the department of political science at the University of Peshawar.

Five contract lecturer positions were recently advertised in the department. Over 50 candidates applied, and 29 of them - including four PhD holders and 25 MPhil degree holders - qualified through a screening test conducted by the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA).

Demonstrations for the positions were held on April 29. The selection committee was headed by the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.According to sources, the committee recommended the sister of the current chairperson of a department as the top candidate. The other three PhD holders were overlooked, while candidates with comparatively lower qualifications and experience were recommended, the sources added.

The university administration is reportedly reluctant to disclose the quantification scores prepared by the university’s meeting section, which should, in principle, be made public.The sources claimed that the established criteria for quantification and test/demonstration marking do not appear to have been properly followed.

The dean did not respond to phone calls and a WhatsApp message from this correspondent seeking his comment. The university’s spokesperson, when contacted, suggested reaching out to the registrar for the university version.

Prof Dr Yorid Ahsan Zia, the university registrar, told The News that the final list of recommended candidates had not yet reached his office. However, he shared the quantification criteria for the lecturer posts, stating that candidates were marked out of a total of 80 points.

According to him, 40 marks were allocated for academic qualifications, five for an MPhil as an additional qualification, 10 for a PhD, five for postgraduate-level teaching experience (with one mark for each year of experience), five for gold medals and 20 marks for the screening test and demonstration.