KU visiting faculty concerned over revival of appointment standards

The visiting faculty, non-permanent teachers, of the University of Karachi has raised concerns over proposals of deans committee over revival of teacher’s appointment standards and alleged that the varsity discourage fresh blood for teaching by giving favor to its over-age retired teachers.
The deans of Karachi University (KU) has moved a summary to syndicate of the varsity for changes in appointment of the teaching assistants, full-time, part-time and adjunct teaching faculty. The syndicate of the varsity in its last meeting has formed a committee to review the proposal of deans committee and submit its report after homework in next syndicate meeting. The visiting faculty claimed that deans committee in his proposal curtailed tuition fee of non-permanent teaching staff and instead of injecting fresh teachers encouraged its retired over-age teacher by giving them more facilities and increase in their monthly salaries in proposal.
The deans of faculties of arts, science Islamic studies, management sciences and pharmacy has submitted a summary to syndicate for revision in appointment of teaching assistants, full-time, part-time and adjunct teaching faculty. It was said in the summary advertisement applications may be invited only twice (May and November) in a calendar year against the available teaching posts. Number of available teaching positions in each semester would be determined by the department in accordance with number of courses to be offered / teaching hours required covering theory and Laboratory sessions / teaching hours available in presence of regular faculty as per workload requirement of the departments.
Deans also recommended that to provide financial assistance to postgraduate students, only those candidates, who are enrolled in M Phil/M.S/PhD degree program and who have successfully completed course work requirements, may be considered for appointment as teaching assistants. The posts may be advertised on departmental notice board or on KU website for at least one week, they suggested.
Departmental Research Committees (DRCs) would finalize the list within one week. The list of short listed candidates would be forwarded to the Registrar through dean for the release of appointment letters. In summary, they suggested that they would be paid a Teaching Fellowship of Rs 19000 per month. Teaching Assistants for full-time teaching (full-time cooperative): In departments where M Phil/PhD students are not available, the vacant positions may be advertised on department notice board or KU website for at least one week as per KU existing rules for full-time cooperatives,” deans said.