THIS is apropos the textbook and monograph writing scheme of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The commission has announced a scheme `broadening the authorship cadre`.
Under this scheme, PhD faculty from HEC-recognised universities across the country has been invited to write textbooks and monographs on diverse/ selected topics following HEC-approved curricula in various subjects.
According to this scheme, the HEC of fers Rs100,000 for writing textbooks at master`s and doctoral levels, while Rs80,000 at bachelor`s level.
This amount may be sufficient for those black and white writings in which there are no diagrams and figures, etc, and no permission for reproduction of printed materials from local or foreign authors and publishersisrequired.
However, this remuneration is meagre for a multi-colour textbook/monograph in which several colour diagrams, figures, tables have to be included and a variety of these reproduced af ter getting the requisite permission from foreign authors, publishers and/or the institutes in order to have a quality authorship cadre to its credit.
The HEC should give credence to the above said facts and upwardly revise the financial incentives to its prospective authors.
