THE World Teachers Day was observed recently, but do we really have something to celebrate when it comes to the plight of the educatorsinPakistan? Theprotest staged by tenure track system (TTS) faculty members from public-sector universities outside the Higher Education Commission (HEC) secretariat in Islamabad, at best, got a lukewarm response in the shape of promises that have, and will remain, unfulfilled.
The recent tweaks in the rules mean teachers may remain assistant professors even after 22 years of service. This is nothing short of `academic tyranny`. By raising quantitative bars excessively high and neglecting the importance of qualitative evaluation, HEC has effectively devaluedthe profound contribution of seasoned academicians. The unfortunate truth is that when the rules of the game keep changing, the players lose motivation to play. The latest policy revision is a classic tactic to harden the promotion criteria without incentivising anything.
HEC may argue that these revisions are essential to foster competitiveness, and to ensure that only the best rise through the ranks. However, when did competitiveness become synonymous with unattainability? To this question, some may respond with a stoic acceptance of the status quo.
There are those who have adapted to the changing tides and managed to find their footing amid the shifting sands. Indeed, some might argue that obtaining research grants and fulfilling quantitative publication requirements are the hallmarks of a successful academic. But should we really celebrate this `survival of the most adaptable` approach? Isit ethicalto drive our educators towards a point where they are forced to resort to questionable means to fulfil these arduous criteria? Why not implement a point-based quantitative measure to evaluate the performance of TTS faculty? The objective nature of such a measure will eliminate the ambiguity plaguing the current criteria.
