Irregularities have been found in the selection of principals for four prominent colleges of Lahore by the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED). Former Gujranwala Board chairman Zahid Butt who did not apply for the principal’s post was short-listed for the interview whereas two grade 19 teachers were also short-listed despite the availability of grade 20 teachers which is contrary to the rules.
HED called in applications for the vacant principals’ seats of Government College of Science Wahdat Road, MAO College, Government Dyal Singh College and Government College Ravi Road. Seven applicants were short-listed for the interview, which was conducted on August 23. Short-listed candidates were Rao Jaleel, Dr Farhan Ebadat, Dr Abdul Qayyum Mirza, Dr Muhammad Khalil, Dr Tariq Aziz, Malik Asif Nazir and Khalid Pervez. Malik Asif and Khalid Pervaiz are grade 19 college teachers but were short-listed despite the availability of grade 20 teachers.
Sources revealed to Pakistan Today that former Gujranwala Board chairman Zahid Butt was interviewed without application and his name was entered in the attendance register at the eleventh hour. Earlier, Zahid Butt became controversial when he sacked Gujranwala Board’s audit officer for exposing Butt’s alleged misuse of financial powers and was transferred consequently. Zahid Butt is also facing an inquiry.
Additional Chief Secretary Nadeem Hassan Asif, Punjab Higher Education Secretary Haseeb Athar, LUMS Economics Professor Zafar Iqbal and Punjab DPI Colleges Tariq were the part of the interview panel.
A short-listed candidate, seeking anonymity, told Pakistan Today that he feared the slaughter of merit in this current selection procedure and said that dozens of grade 20 teachers were available but unfortunately grade 19 teachers were short-listed. He said that the selected grade 19 teachers were already acting principals in their colleges. He said that there were at least 40 grade 20 teachers in the government colleges but was not sure if they applied for the posts or not.
Another short-listed candidate said that each education secretary pursued his own policies and never bothered about the consequences. He said that grade 19 teachers could be appointed as principals in some colleges but not in the colleges for whom the interview was taken. He said that there were enough grade 20 applicants but the short listing of grade 19 officers was unfortunate. He also lashed out at the inconsistent policies of the Punjab HED.
Punjab HED Additional Secretary Haroon Rafique told Pakistan Today that though principal’s seat was for grade 20 officers but the seat could not remain vacant due to the unavailability of grade 20 teachers, therefore grade 19 teachers could be appointed. When asked about the Butt’s case, he said that he had no information about it.
Punjab Higher Education Secretary Haseeb Athar and DPI Colleges Tariq were not available for comments despite repeated attempts.
There stands out to be more of the concerning objects and values for the students to regard about all those essential elements and surely would proved to be much better for them.
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