HEC announces 30% pay increase for TTS academics

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) notified on Friday an increase of 30 percent in the salaries of Tenure Track System (TTS) Public University teachers. The salary increment despite a dismal economic situation was lauded by academics. Sources said the increment took place after a pressure from TTS teachers and efforts from HEC officials. The TTS system was introduced four years ago which kept a terminal degree or Phd degree a minimum qualification. The HEC notification increases the minimum salary of Professor from Rs 180,000 to Rs 234,000 and maximum salary from 312,000 to 405,600. Similarly an Associate Professor’s minimum salary was increased from Rs 120,000 to 156,000 and maximum salary from Rs 225,000 to 292,500. Assistant Professor’s minimum salary was increased from Rs 80,000 to Rs 104,000 and maximum salary from Rs 162,500 to Rs 211,250. HEC Executive Director Sohail told Pakistan Today that an old demand of TTS teachers was met due to HEC efforts. He denied HEC lacked the recurring budget for salaries though he accepted that the development budget had been facing cuts over the past few years. He said any Phd or terminal degree holder can apply for the post of assistant professor under TTS scheme whereas Associate Professors and Professors need to fulfill certain requirements to apply for their respective posts under TTS, requirements which include a specific amount of experience and research papers. He said the HEC could not afford to lose Phd scholars and had designed a good salary package for them. He said the salary was a lump sum which included all sorts of allowances. Sohail clarified no HEC foreign scholar had been called back due to the shortage of funds. HEC funds TTS whereas Basic Pay Scale (BPS) system is paid by the respective Government. TTS teachers demanded salary increments after the BPS teachers received a 50 percent salary increment last year. As TTS teachers work on a contractual basis and the HEC developed a mechanism to review the performance of the teachers after a specific time period. University teachers lauded the HEC decision and said that the step would encourage people aiming to become academic scholars.