University of Swat being run without vice chancellor

MINGORA: The University of Swat and its students have been facing a host of problems since long as the seat of learning is being run without a fulltime vice-chancellor.
It has created uncertainty among the students and faculty members. The alleged differences among the government circles over the appointment of a fulltime vice-chancellor have generated a crisis-like situation at the university that doesn’t have its own building.
The University of Swat is providing education to the local youth, but the inordinate delay in the construction of university’s own building at Charbagh and appointment of the vice-chancellor has caused disappointment among the students.
After its establishment, Dr Muhammad Farooq was appointed the first vice-chancellor of the University of Swat that was initially launched at a building owned by the Jehanzeb College. In 2011, the government appointed Dr Farooq Swati as the new vice-chancellor. He acquired land for the university’s building in Charbagh.
In May, 2011, a committee was tasked with evaluating the land and submitting a report. It revealed that the proposed site was located close to a fault-line and it was not feasible for construction.
On July 26, 2011, the university arranged a meeting with the then district coordination officer of Swat who asked the registrar to de-notify the piece of land. The University of Swat is being run without a vice-chancellor since June, 2017.
Though the search committee recommended three names, the alleged differences between the governor and chief minister over the issue of the appointment of the vice-chancellor has stalled the process.
Besides the position of the vice-chancellor, even other important offices like the Registrar, Controller of Examinations, director Finance, director Planning and Development have been assigned temporarily to the academic staff members, who have no experience to run the affairs of these posts.
According to the present administration of the university, nobody can be appointed against these slots until a permanent vice-chancellor was appointed. The prevailing situation has caused worry among the students, who are the main stakeholder. “The university even doesn’t have enough classrooms. We need to wait until our seniors leave,” said a student Hamza.
He said the students were compelled to take classes at the rented building, which lacked labs, proper classrooms and other facilities. “This campus lacks the facility of drinking water and washrooms,” said another student Asmatullah.
The students asked the government to appoint a regular vice-chancellor for the university so that he could fill the vacant positions as it was hampering official work. “We –the students – are the ones who are suffering. Our university is like a rudderless ship that will sink if our issues remain unheeded,” said a student.