KP restricts Pro-vice-chancellor’s decision making authority

PESHAWAR: In a recent development, the provincial Higher Education Department has issued a circular instructing Pro-Vice Chancellors to abstain from making significant financial and administrative decisions.

The directive, communicated through a letter to 11 universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, delineates that Pro-Vice-Chancellors are restricted to overseeing day-to-day affairs within the Higher Education Department.

However, questions arise regarding the legality of this directive, with sources contending that, according to the Act, the authority to make decisions rests with the provincial chancellors.

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Notably, there seems to be a lack of awareness regarding the relevant legislation, as the Secretary of the Higher Education Department is reportedly uninformed about the act.

Adding to the complexity, many universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are currently without permanent vice-chancellors, giving rise to both financial and administrative crises.

It is worth mentioning that Pro-Vice-Chancellor of a University is appointed by the Government to act as officiating Vice- Chancellor or Acting Vice-Chancellor, as the case may, be for the period of two years.

This situation underscores the potential repercussions of restricting decision-making powers within the academic leadership structure.

With 12 government universities suffering from a lack of permanent Vice-Chancellors (VCs), and the imminent expiration of the tenure of VCs in 10 more institutions in January, it’s clear that the negligence of the government has driven these educational institutions to the brink.

For a staggering six months, the caretaker government has failed to appoint new VCs, further aggravating the dire situation. Adding fuel to the fire, sources from the Higher Education Department have revealed that Pro Vice-Chancellors remain un-appointed in four universities, a glaring example of the government’s negligence.