Returning serenity to campuses

In the recent weeks, the peaceful and spirited government-run campuses for higher learning across the province have been in turmoil as students and teachers there are equally out to allay what they hold the gradually casting shadows of autocracy over the much emphasised hubs of academics and researchers.

First, the campus souls are irritated due the fact that universities are not allowing restoration of the long lost student unions’ election, and consequential representation of student bodies in the statutory body of the universities and degree awarding institutes managed in the public and private sectors in Sindh. The unions in universities are remaining in abeyance since early 1980 through a federal government order. Following much pressures from students and damages done to leadership quality training in the higher education institutions, the Sindh government got the Sindh Students' Union Restoration Bill, drafted in 2019, passed through the provincial assembly in 2022 to revive the student unions with the objective to promote democratic values, students’ participation, and academic excellence across the province with immediate effect.

Strangely, quarters at the helm of affairs played indifferently, universities are failing to implement the laws for launching of student unions in the seats of higher learning, despite even litigations in higher courts and demonstrations of concern by various student communities. Obviously, the dilly-dally approaches of the authorities, among the controllers in the government and universities, can be blamed for the continued lapses.

According to a recent report carried in Social Track, provincial government’s failure to getting the said Sindh Student Union Act implemented is causing frustration among students; government officials claim universities are responsible for implementing the law, while university administrations say they are waiting for the government’s nod.

Sindh Assembly on January 21, 2025, rejected a resolution tabled by an opposition member calling for the immediate holding of student union polls. A government minister had opposed the resolution, saying his government is already working on the subject. Students and teachers, however, are emphasising the holding of unions’ elections.

In addition, yet another Sindh cabinet decision is aimed at amending the existing Universities Act to open up the appointments on vice chancellors’ slots in public sector universities across the province for the bureaucrats as well. The government side understands that such a move is necessary, as the present criteria of selecting a vice chancellor from the academic core is not yielding due results. Pro to the cabinet’s decisions are reportedly of the view that only strong in academics, including the PhD degree holder ones, have always been not up to the mark when academic excellence, administrative and disciplinary acumen and financial models in the case of universities are considered.

Reports suggest that teachers under the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association have gone on strike, including boycott of teaching activities, against the proposed amendments to the universities laws and related policies. They express the view that appointment of a bureaucrat as vice chancellor will pose significant challenge to the academic independence of universities, which should be led by qualified academicians only. It is felt that the move is tantamount to breaching the autonomy and integrity of higher education premises in the province.

As the struggles are on for union elections and vice-chancellor’s slot, an early return of serenity to campuses should be underscored to save the teaching activities from further damages. Overall self-serving brawls cannot be preferred as appreciable long-term replacement to wiser brains in our educational institutions.

Editorial/Social Track (dt January 24,2025)