By Abdul Rahman Malik,
College Education has been the most neglected segment in Pakistan
especially in Sindh where the colleges are not provided with the development funds, Modern Methods of Teaching,
Language and Computer labs, Interactive
Classrooms.
The Obsolete Promotions system and the old
nomenclature of posts dating back to 1980s, Non-
provision of scholarships for higher education to
Government College Teachers, So much so that the
heads of colleges are not appointed based on
Administrative Skills and competence.
As a result, they mess up the college funds and run
after development funds but neglect the key point of
imparting quality education to the underprivileged
areas of the province. The Situation becomes
grimmer when the colleges are established on the
political basis and notified without following the
procedure of SNE, Building, Population and feeding
Schools that may guarantee the smooth running of
the college.
The non existence of any clear rules and recruitment
policy for the appointment of the Principals in the
Government colleges ,have played havoc with
college Education outreach and standards since the
principals being unaware of even ABC of Audit and
Accounting, DDO Powers, Responsibilities, Drafting
and Correspondence, communication, office
Administration, linkages, financial audit, monitoring
and evaluation of teachers and students outputs,
Curriculum Development , Course Plan , Planning
and development of development schemes such as
Repair and renovation of college building and
procurement procedure .
Mostly the professors in BPS-19 and BPS-20 are
posted on administrative or management cadres
such as Regional Directors, DGs and Chairman BISEs.There is no College Teachers Training Institute
(CTTI) that may impart training to newly appointed
Lecturers and other Staff that it may increase their
productivity. Even representation in College
Education Department is denied and usurped by
Powerful PAS, PSS, PCS, PMS and OMG officers who
are unaware of the college matters and issues.
Teachers dejected and disillusioned over delayed
promotions, often take 18 years to next grade but
some unfortunate ones get promotions after
reaching the superannuation or after retirement.
Earlier, the college teachers were provided move
over to next grade after completing their minimum
service slab in the given scale but later it was
withdrawn.
Later, Time Scale was granted to the teachers of
School Education such as PSTs, JSTs and HSTs, and
the subject Specialists of higher secondary Schools ,
but the college Education or higher education
Teachers were denied these monetary benefits
since it provided respite against delayed DPC
(Departmental Promotion Committee) by Board I
and II to consider the cases of promotions from BS-
17 to BS-20 respectively.
It is alarming and ironic that some teachers retire in
the same grade during the whole service period and
some get only one promotion to next grade, given
the obsolete Promotions System and the so-called
Four Tier i.e. Grade wise promotions and
appointment for BS-17, BS-18, BS-19 and BS-20.
On the other hand, Punjab and KPK have introduced
five-tier Means appointment and Promotions from
BS-17, BS-18, BS-19, BS-20 and BS-21 But in Sindh,
the old four-tier is in practice with ratio of 60:40
means 60% promotions for Male and 40%
Promotions for Female. The Delayed DPCs after two
to five years have wreaked havoc with servicestructure and pensionary benefits as enjoyed by
other employees of various Departments of Sindh,
Punjab and KPK provinces.
Teachers Unions of all four provinces such as SPLA
(Sindh) KPLA (KPK) ,BPLA (Baluchistan) and PPLA
(Punjab have protested for their rights and have
been successful in getting their demands approved
except the SPLA owing to internal differences,
insincerity, self or individualism and disintegration
on the basis of lack of consensus and no
consultation with the college fraternity.
The old players of SPLA went on a solo flight and
kept the members of SPLA in limbo that resulted in
their downfall who sabotaged the real voice of
college teachers and dragged the College Teachers in
the quagmire of disappointment, deprivation and
injustice. The disparities still continue haunting the
college fraternity.
Some progressive approach Young leaders came up
to win support for Time scale and staged a
showdown which drew the attention of the
authorities to the long due issue of promotions and
supplementing it with time scale until they get
regular time-based promotions ,But the old leaders
could not digest the successful protest and the
landmark court decision directing CM Sindh and
Secretary College Education to resolve the issues of
Promotions and Time scale after determining
financial requirements and policy matters on
priority basis.
Some teachers demand the grades in the lines of
University since B.Com, B.Sc, BA (Now Replaced
with Ad.Sc and Ad.A) MA level students have been
imparted education at Degree and Post Graduate
Study level at the Degree Colleges and Post
Graduate Studies centres. The Up-gradation of posts
such as Lecturers from BS-17 to 18 and Above in
the lines of University as the college teachers are
regulated through Higher Education.
The old stalwarts of Colleges were lured by the
lucrative administrative positions in the regional
directorates, DG office, Boards and Principal Ship.They do not know that the Civil servants get 5
Promotions in their entire career as per their
promotion policies i.e BS-17 to BS-22.
Inversely, the College Teachers are the most
neglected fraternity that has been deprived of all
such perks and amenities as safeguarded by the
respective Civil Servants Ordinance, the constitution
of Pakistan. Such injustice warrants that
Government should resolve the issues on a priority
basis.
It is unfortunate that the college teachers having no
any representation in College Education
Department Secretariat, instead ,there are several
doctors serving in Health Secretariat ,Several
Engineers serving in PHED Secretariat on
administrative Posts of SO, DS, ADS and Secretary
level positions but regrettably, the College
Professors even in Grade 19, 20 are denied such
representation just because they do not have a
management or executive cadre like PSS, PMS, POS,
PCS or OMG, AAG etc, Though , the college teachers
are appointed through Competitive Examination of
SPSC, FPSC or other Provincial Public Service
Commissions . .
It is also pertinent to note that the Civil servants are
unaware of the technical terms and issues of
Colleges and the only College teachers can address
the needs and resolve the issues of College Teachers
properly and on a priority basis.
The College teachers should also be allocated 5% to
10% share in administrative posts in Secretariat as
our college teachers are the most efficient and
talented and can better deliver in policymaking and
updating curriculum, Service rules drafting and
making informed decisions on administrative
grounds.
It is shocking and disgusting to express that the
teacher who is the factory to produce all the officers,
is deplorably considered “not fit” for administrative
positions though he/she is recruited through the
same SPSC/FPSC.It would be great if Government introduces
Executive service to join the Civil service or
secretarial service like SOPE ( Section Officers
Promotions Exam) conducted by FPSC from the
Federal Employees in Grades 7 to 16 have 8 years
Experience.
After passing SOPE, they are awarded CSS cadre
OMG ( Office Management Group).They have been
doing a tremendous job as these Officers are well
aware of day to day Office Matters and meet
deadlines quite easily and require fewer directions.
The Government should also revise the SNE of the
Colleges by creating Three additional posts i.e. Vice-
Principal BS- 18 and Sub Engineer BS 11/16 and
Assistant Director ( Finance and Planning) BS-17 to
run the administrative, Development and
Accounting Matters Smoothly. The Federal Colleges
and Punjab colleges have Vice Principals who look
after or officiate in the absence of Principals. There
should be either direct appointments through
search Committee or Public Service Commission for
the Position of Vice Principals and Principals so that
most experienced persons may be appointed on the
administrative Posts.
Furthermore, Local and International scholarships
and study leaves are not granted to college teachers
to pursue M.Phil and PhD or Postdoctoral studies as
availed by University teachers.
The New college Teachers appointed through SPSC
should undergo the induction or orientation
training to be organized at Directorate level or a
training wing or proposed institute i.e. CTTI
(College Teachers Training Institute ) or college
Management Institute (CMI), may be established to
impart training on teaching methodologies and
lecture process, policy matters and Orientation
training for Principals and Vice Principals on
Administration, Management, supervision, Auditing
,Strategic planning and innovation to improve
college Education and bringing it at par with
international standards . The Projectors should be
used and Laptop scheme should be initiated for
teachers so that teachers can impart education onmodern lines and make the learning fun as students
get bored from the lecture of 40 to 45 minutes. The
Presentations on Multimedia Projects will make
learning interactive and collaborative.
Regrettably, though, there are multimedia
projectors installed at some colleges but they are out
of order for years and The Principals lacking
visionary thoughts have not even bothered to make
them functional because of unavailability of
computer lecturers and technicians, There should
also be computer lab assistants, besides just Lab
Assistants @ Colleges.
Principals are the team leaders rather than just a
boss to scold, report, temper with ACRs or take
action against teachers on personal grudges and
lenient on blue-eyed teachers. As a fact, the Bosses
will never take the responsibility but they shift
responsibility, On the other hand, the leaders always
believe in teamwork and take the responsibility of
Either Good or Bad and defend their teammates.
Regrettably, some so many principals are imposed
upon the colleges lacking the competency to run the
day to day affairs. Owing to their incompetence,
inefficiency and lack of training, the college
Academic and Administrative issues surface which
prompt the supervisory authorities to intervene and
resolve issues. These trivial issues might have been
resolved at the college level, had there been
qualified and competent Principals having problem-
solving skills and management skills. It is also
necessary that Executive Management Training
should be made compulsory for the Principal before
joining. This will further their deliverables.
It is the need of the hour to address the woes of
College Teachers and the College. These should be
resolved on the war-footing basis to transform
colleges into great seats of learning since colleges fill
the gaps of higher education where there are no
universities. The colleges serve as higher Education
intuitions offering degrees at Undergraduate,
Graduate and Post Graduate level.
