Key Takeaways
- Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah has proposed raising the retirement age for university professors.
- The move aims to address financial burdens and retain experienced faculty.
- Vice chancellors of public universities highlighted challenges such as private university poaching and pension liabilities.
Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah has called for an increase in the retirement age for university professors from 60 to 65 years, as part of efforts to ease the financial burden on public universities.
During a meeting with vice chancellors of 32 public universities, Shah acknowledged the challenges faced by these institutions, including the departure of experienced faculty to private universities and the high cost of pensions.
Shah stated that the provincial government is providing Rs44.46 billion in grants to Sindh’s universities during the current financial year, but pension liabilities have become a significant challenge.
The chief secretary emphasized the need to reduce unnecessary recruitment, particularly in non-faculty positions, to alleviate the financial strain on universities.
He also proposed including more education and higher education experts in university syndicates and encouraging alumni engagement in institutional development.
Shah stressed the importance of research accreditation and industry-oriented research, urging universities to establish closer ties with international institutions.
The government is also planning to introduce a solarisation plan for universities to reduce electricity costs and eliminate illegal connections.
Vice chancellors expressed concerns about retaining qualified faculty, citing higher salaries offered by private universities and the difficulties of retaining teachers who leave for overseas opportunities.
They also highlighted the impact of pension liabilities and high electricity bills on their financial stability, alongside shortages of faculty and other human resource challenges.
