RECENT LY, the Sindh University vice-chancellor (SUVC)issued verbal instructions to heads of all faculties not to appoint retired professors henceforth as research guides for MPhil and PhD programmes.
A professor who retires at the pinnacle of his career having a wealth of skill and experience, coupled with the professional knowledge he has acquired during 35 to 40 years of teaching, is an asset to the educational system, as well as to society. It is the most opportune moment when his services can be utilised for greater advantage of an university. All over the world retired professors, being the most experienced and knowledgeable teachers, besides having more time for pupils, are always given preference over the young teachers to guide young MPhil and PhD scholars.
Unfortunately, if the above decision was implemented, it would not only devastate our repository of knowledge and experience but at the same time deprive the students and scholars of Sindh University of the wisdom and knowledge which retired teachers possess.
Thus banishing the retired faculty means frittering away the wealth of knowledge and experience. I hope the Sindh University vice-chacellor would reconsider his instructions in the best interest of the students, who will mainly suf fer from lack of experienced and highly learned guidance. Moreover, at the end our entire society would also suffer for such a loss.
