The prestigious “Science” magazine of 29 April, 2011 has stated about the Indian higher education situation that “Faculties wither as higher education system rapidly expands”. This Indian situation has a resonance with a similar situation in Pakistan. It is stated that out of 11085 faculty positions in public sector universities of India, 3777 positions are unfilled due to lack of teachers which has prompted the Indian Prime Minister to launch a second wave of education to train an army of teachers. In Pakistan and especially in Punjab a spate of colleges of veterinary sciences have been opened while there is an acute shortage of competent teachers not only in the existing universities and institutions but also more so in new colleges which often recruit retired professors or teachers in their faculties.
It has been said in India that “Expansion is politically popular, but functionally disastrous.” The chancellor of Punjab public sector universities and colleges must examine the situation in Punjab, which may turn out similar to the one found in India.
DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore