–HEC orders suspension of scores of MPhil, PhD programmes at PU
LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission has directed Lahore’s Punjab University to suspend admissions to scores of PhD and MPhil programmes over a lack of qualified teachers.
The HEC directed the university, one of the biggest in the country, to stop admissions to 28 PhD and 33 MPhil programmes, saying the degrees won’t be attested if the PU didn’t comply with the order. PU offers at least 55 PhD and over 70 Mphil programme, open to students from across the country.
When approached, PU Spokesperson Khurram Shahzad hoped it would be a temporary decision as the university will be in a position to resume these programme after a year.
He said halting of admissions to these departments will clear the student backlog, as, currently, the student-teacher ratio is highly disproportionate.
When asked if the university was planning on hiring more faculty member, the spokesperson said most of the departments have a required number of teachers; however, there are few programmes where the varsity might hire new teachers to meet the shortfall.