BS programme at IMCG in jeopardy after losing PhD faculty

Islamabad : The continuity of the BS Computer Science programme at Islamabad Model College for Girls (Postgraduate), G-10/4, is under serious threat due to the unavailability of a PhD-qualified teacher, a mandatory condition set by the Higher Education Commission and Quaid-i-Azam University for Islamabad's public colleges regulated by the Federal Directorate of Education.

The IMCG, G-10/4 lost its teacher with PhD in Computer Science, Dr. Javedullah, who was borrowed from Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB), H-9, when he was transferred by the FDE to Islamabad College for Boys (ICB), G-6/3. His presence at IMCG, G-10/4 had been essential for maintaining the programme’s accreditation, as HEC and QAU require at least one PhD-qualified teacher in the relevant discipline.

According to faculty members, FDE transferred Dr. Javedullah on temporary duty (loan basis) to ICB, G-6/3 because the college is launching a new BS Computer Science programme and needed a PhD-qualified teacher to meet the starting requirement. As a result, IMCG, G-10/4 has been left without a qualified faculty member to sustain its running program.

Teachers have criticised the decision, terming it academic manipulation.

“This is academic dishonesty,” said a senior teacher at IMCG, G-10/4. “FDE has made it a routine to move Ph.D. teachers temporarily between colleges to satisfy HEC and QAU inspection teams. It misleads inspection teams and weakens the credibility of our academic system.”

Under HEC and QAU rules, every BS programme must have at least one PhD-qualified teacher along with educators having MPhil, MS or MSc degrees.

Without a faculty member without PhD, IMCG, G-10/4 no longer fulfills this requirement. “The accreditation of the program and affiliation could be suspended because Dr Javedullah cannot serve two colleges simultaneously,” warned a senior faculty member.

“Students may suffer because of administrative mismanagement rather than academic shortcomings.”

Faculty members point out that Dr. Javedullah has been repeatedly moved between colleges to temporarily meet accreditation and affiliation conditions, a practice they call “a mockery of the system.” “He has become a rolling stone,” said a professor of IMCB, H-9. “Whenever an inspection is near, he is sent wherever needed. It’s a misuse of talent and an insult to higher education.”

Teachers have also criticised what they call academic corruption, accusing the FDE of relying on paperwork compliance instead of genuine academic development. “The concept of temporary duty has become a loophole to cover administrative inefficiency,” said an Assistant Professor of ICB. “It damages academic integrity and demoralises faculty.”

He argued that stable, quality BS programmes cannot be built on borrowed or short-term faculty. “This patchwork approach creates instability and compromises the quality of education."

Teachers have urged the education minister and the prime minister to take notice of what they describe as “systematic faculty manipulation” and order an audit of all BS programmes in Islamabad to verify whether teachers with PhD are actually serving full-time in their assigned colleges.

“Higher education isn’t about ticking boxes,” said a senior professor.

“When PhD-qualified teachers are shuffled like chess pieces to please inspection teams, it reflects a deep rot in our education system. Students deserve stability and not deception,” he said.