Cut Piece

Higher education: College teachers warn of protest against university

FAISALABAD: Teachers at the Government Girls College for Women, Madina Town, announced on Thursday they would launch a protest against upgrading the college to a women’s university. They alleged that the acting vice chancellor, Prof Zakir Hussain, also the Government College University VC, had had told them “to find new jobs” way before their deputation period ended. An action committee formed by the Professors and Lecturers Association to protest the upgrade held a meeting in this regard on Thursday. The committee includes Prof Rakhshanda Shahnaz, Prof Robina Zaka, Prof Mah Anjum, Prof Tehmina, Prof Aasia Imtiaz and Prof Ateeqa Nisa. Talking to The Express Tribune, Prof Shahnaz said that the committee members had devised a strategy. She said after the college was upgraded to a university in January, Dr Hussain had told the college teachers that they had been put on deputation for one year. However, she said, three months later, some teachers were being asked to leave. She said Dr Hussain had issued a statement on Monday asking the teachers to find new jobs as soon as possible. “This is not fair …we have decided to protest,” she said. She also said that the VC had earlier assured the college teachers and staff that they would be accommodated at the women’s university. After the university was set up, she alleged, Dr Hussain backed out of his promise. She said the teachers were not opposed to upgrading of the college per se, but were not happy with the way the administration was dealing with them. She said the administration of the university appeared determined to “kick the teachers out to hire teachers of their choice”. She said the upgrading of the college could thus deprive a large number of teachers of their jobs. She said most teachers had served the college “all their lives”. She said after a few days of deliberation, the teachers had decided to ask the VC for more time. If their requests were ignored, they would launch a province-wide protest. The university spokesmen told The Express Tribune that Dr Hussain’s statement was a reminder to the teachers. He said similar statements were planned to be issued later during their deputation as well. He said some of the teachers had not been cooperative and had been threatening violence. He alleged that some teachers were also provoking students against the administration. Later talking to The Express Tribune, Prof Hussain said that the Women’s University administration was not against the teachers or staff. He said competent and eligible teachers would be accommodated in the university. “However, teachers sabotaging the peaceful atmosphere of the university …would definitely be kicked out,” he added. Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2013.