A teacher is always a role model for children. The development of any nation depends significantly on having good teachers in educational institutions. In the city of Quaid, Karachi University used to provide excellent education, and every child aspired to pursue higher education there. However, due to limited space, many children were left without admission.
In response, the government of Pakistan permitted the private sector to open universities to facilitate easier access to education. While numerous private universities are doing commendable work, some instances arise where professors exploit students for personal gain. Only when parents become aware of such incidents, they lodge complaints with senior university officials, leading to actions against the errant professors.
Recent protests by various political parties have drawn attention to instances of student harassment and unfair grading practices. It has been reported that students at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology are fearful of a particular associate professor, Fazal Noor, in the Architecture Department. Students claim that Professor Noor has been engaging in harassing behavior for an extended period, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
If the allegations made by the students are accurate, it is imperative that Sir Syed University conducts a thorough investigation into the actions of Professor Fazal Noor to ascertain the facts. In cases where educational institutions fail to protect students and hold faculty accountable, injustice prevails. Professors may continue to exploit students for personal interests, and students will continue to be victims of such misconduct.
The question arises: Are the shortcomings of professors being concealed to protect the university’s reputation? Or are universities complicit in the actions of such professors? It is observed that various means are employed to manipulate parents, and those who do not cooperate may find their children subjected to harassment.
This article is being published without prejudice, with the hope that esteemed private institutions like Sir Syed University will take steps to ensure the well-being of their students. Investigating these concerns is crucial, as students express fear and worry, while their parents diligently work to afford the costs associated with these educational institutions.
We should conduct mental and educational assessments of all professors annually for the betterment of Pakistan’s future. This would ensure that professors are in good mental health to provide quality education to children and are free from any form of harassment, physical or mental violence. In Pakistan, only the professors’ degrees are considered, and their mental well-being is often overlooked. This oversight allows professors to not only mistreat students but also behave inappropriately towards them, creating an environment of fear that hinders academic performance. Students due to fear often remain silent about their experiences.
If this situation persists without change, it could have detrimental effects on students. They may either disengage from education or be compelled to leave university prematurely, missing out on completing their education. Educational institutions should implement comprehensive assessments for professors across all universities. Failing to do so allows those who mistreat students to tarnish the institutions’ reputations and jeopardize the future of these invaluable young minds.
Upon hearing accounts from students, I felt compelled to fulfill my journalistic duty by writing this article. I hope that institutions, such as Sir Syed University, proactively investigate such matters to address student complaints internally before reaching the media. When students feel helpless and bullied, it becomes essential to ensure their concerns are addressed within the educational environment, otherwise they will opt to reach out to journalists or political figures in desperation.
