University teachers protest against HEC’s ‘damaging’ policies

ISLAMABAD: University teachers from the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) have staged a protest outside the Higher Education Commission (HEC) against its ‘damaging policies’.

While holding placards and raising slogans against the commission, its officials and policies expressed their demands. “Our protest will continue against HEC’s policies,” said Dr Sohail Yousuf, President of FAPUASA.

The teachers shouted slogans against HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri and carried a list of demands, which included a stop to HEC interference in universities’ affairs, the restoration of terminated faculty, an increase in the higher education budget, post Ph.D. conditions for basic pay scale (BPS) faculty, issues facing tenure track system teachers, the withdrawal of a new journal policy, representation of the FAPUASA in policymaking and a new admissions policy.

The protesters have also set up a camp outside HEC as the commission is unmoved to resolve their issues. In this regard, Dr Sohail Yousuf said that HEC has been devising policies against education.

The FAPUASA president further said that the struggle was for the future of higher education in Pakistan and to cease the brain-drain that is being caused by ill-intended policies of HEC.

Dr Sohail Yousuf also said that the government officials and the Chairman HEC have turned a blind eye to the protest. Meanwhile, Chairman HEC Dr. Tariq Banuri talking to media said that HEC had attempted to talk to teachers; however, they instead of listening were trying to threaten the department.