A new scam surfaced in the University of Karachi on Thursday in which a department sent extra names in the list of candidates who have passed a test for enrolment in M Phil programme to avoid any possible action over low results, it was learnt.
An investigation into affairs of KU Post-Graduate Admission Committee (PGAC) revealed that Departmental Research Committee (DRC) of economics department had sent extra names in the list of candidates who passed test for enrolment in M Phil.
Per announcement of PGAC, 14 candidates had passed the M Phil test in economics department, but on investigation it was disclosed that only two candidates had passed the test and the department sent names of 12 extra candidates to avoid criticism from varsity high-ups over low results.
A professor of three-member DRC of economics department, Prof Dr Shafique-ur Rehman, said 130 candidates applied for admission in M Phil and all of them appeared in the test which was held on May 6. He said only two students could pass the test and the pass percentage stood 1.5 percent.
DRC of economics department held a meeting after the test and decided to scale down the basic passing criteria from 60 percent to 40 percent.
“Per KU criteria that was approved by the academic council, a candidate needed 60 percent marks to qualify for the interview to enroll in M Phil programme,” he said, adding that when we applied the KU criteria, only two students stood eligible for interviews.
“We decided to scale down criteria from 60 percent to 40 percent then 12 more students stood eligible for interviews,” he said, adding that they sent a list of 14 candidates to PGAC.
Later, varsity announced the results of M Phil and it declared that 14 candidates had passed the test. “With this, the department has sent request to PGAC to accept the decision of the DRC as only two candidates have passed test,” he said.
Asked about the low pass percentage, he said 90 percent of the candidates had passed their MA from the department and it was matter of concern that only two students could pass the entry test. KU Faculty of Arts Dean Prof Dr Zaffar Iqbal said the chairman department of economics came to his office the next day of the test and briefed me about DRC’s decision.
“I refused the request, but the chairman insisted for changing in the basic criteria to hide the bad performance of the department,” he claimed.
“Then the chairman of the department sent a request to PGAC, a part of Board of Advance Studies and Research (BASR), for approval of DRC decision but the BASR also overturned the request,” he added.
“It is a matter of grave concerns that only two students of 130 could pass the tets and I will suggest the varsity that it should take stern action against those departments which could not produce results,” he suggested.
