Karachi:
Mounting administrative and financial problems at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuuast) has drawn attention from the National Assembly, as the Standing Committee for Education called Rector Dr. Zabta Shinwari Monday.
The NA panel meeting to be chairmaned by the committee chair and participated by federal Minister of Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui together with 21 members will take complaints from faculty members relating to non-payment of wages and pensions, suspension of medical quotas and heavy teaching workloads.
Teachers from the University’s Islamabad -Campus, in consultation with colleagues from Karachi, filed complaints who claimed that two to three months’ salary was awaited, housing allowance had been withheld for over a year and medical facilities were practically withdrawn. They claimed that the faculty was forced to teach up to six courses per year. Semester – far beyond standard teaching loads and even against recommendations from VC’s own committee.
The letter also claimed that teachers were forced to take summer classes without pay, despite the university collecting millions of rupees in fees. The faculty also complained about being limited to 20 days of annual leave compared to 48 days for non-teachers.
Teachers accused the administration of harassment against those who expressed concerns, including the issuance of explanatory letters and the formation of study committees. Questions were also raised about the legality of the university syndicate, which the faculty claims is incomplete and works with acting officials and unauthorized deans, in violation of the University Regulation.
