The University of Karachi (KU) has taken interviews of those candidates, who have passed the MS/PhD test last years but failed to clear interviews, this year to shade out of turn exemption to its teachers from the test.
Earlier, the varsity has declared its teachers exempted from the test after pressure of Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS) by giving reason that KU has also exempted all those candidates from test up to two years who have cleared the test before like National Testing System (NTS). Vice Chancellor (VC) KU Prof Dr Muhammad Qaiser, who turned down illegal KUTS demand, was pressurized and finally teacher’s society get its illegal claim accepted after the Board of Advance Studies and Research (BASR), Post-Graduate Admission Committee (PGAC) has misled the VC and told him that the varsity has also exempted all those candidates from test up to two years, who have cleared the test before like National Testing System (NTS), after the approval of the Academic Council few years back.
However, the KU AC has not discussed exemption of those candidates up to two years like NTS who have once passed MS/PhD exams. BASR, PGAC Convener Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi claimed that the matter of exemption of such candidates like NTS was brought in academic council and it was approved after discussion. Pakistan Today launched a survey of various departments and met with members of academic council to verify claim of BASR, PGAC Convener. Some of them claimed that they get information about this rule when number of students, who have passed test last year and failed in interview, arrived with claim that the varsity has exempted all those candidates from retest up to two years, who passed the MS/PhD test once. However, some others were seen unfamiliar about this KU rule as not a single such candidate approached for interviews to claim admission.
KU Dean Faculty of Arts Prof Dr Zaffar Iqbal said that the varsity is facing crises after exempting candidates up to two years who passed the test for once. “I have no idea when academic council approved this rule but I am sure that there was no such concept before exemption of varsity teacher from test and interviews, he said, adding that it means those candidates who couldn’t get admissions this year after passing test and interviews due to limited seats will come again for interviews only next year. “If it is then it will create crises for varsity in future,” he warned.
Talking to Pakistan Today, KU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Qaiser confirmed that the varsity had allowed those students who had passed MS/PhD test during last two years and failed to clear interviews due to some reasons to appear in interview and if they successfully pass the interview, they would be enrolled. “I was informed by the head of department concerned that the varsity had decided not to retest those candidates up to two years who have passed the test once, he said, adding that I was not part of the varsity when academic council approved this suggestion and I accepted the demand of teacher’s society and exempted those teachers who were hired by the university after test and interviews in last two years from retest. When he was asked for confirmation of academic council approval in this regards, he said he was unknown and advised this scribe to consult with PGAC Convener as according to him that he was informed by her about academic council resolution.
KU BASR, PGAC Convener Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi insisted that academic council had approved this suggestion at that time when the varsity decided to have its own testing system instead dependence on NTS in 2008. “When the design of MS/PhD was brought in academic council then it was suggested that the varsity should also exempt those candidates for any further test who have passed MS/PhD test once as like NTS,” she claimed. Giving some reasons of interviews of those candidates who have passed the test and failed in interviews last year again, she said that these candidates were not declared failed in the interview. She said that in some departments number of students have passed the test but the departments can entertain very few of them due to limited seats and there is nothing wrong that those candidates who could not be enrolled due to limited seats should be given chance for appearing before the Departmental Research Committees (DRCs) for interviews. Might be this time they improve themselves and can get admissions in post-graduate programs after leading those who passed test this year,” she added.
