LARKANA: The Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP), Islamabad, in a recent letter addressed to the Registrar, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU), Larkana, has pinpointed around 70% shortage of teaching faculty in the Institute of Pharmacy.
The letter quoted the report of the inspection team which said that “Total sanctioned seats of regular faculty are 18 and six faculty visiting which means 24 faculty members which meets the required criteria of PCP present student teacher ratio. Presently eight faculty members are present and four are on visiting and the rest are in the recruitment process. The recruitment procedure is almost completed, only interviews/selection board is remaining. So, the registrar of the concerned university promised the selection board will be completed within two months.”
Dr. Rana Muhammad Safdar, President, PCP, further directed in his letter to expedite the selection process and compliance of the criteria of PCP for student teacher ratio as pointed out by the inspection team which visited on 7th October 2021. The letter dated 3rd December 2021 further said that “sufficient time has already been lapsed and to avoid any inconvenience, it is expected that the recruitment process will be completed well in time as per commitment of the University”.
“The Council has a legal right to revoke/withdraw the permission of admission of Pharm. D Program if it observed any violation or non-compliance to the regulations / directions / instructions issued by the Council from time to time”, the letter concluded.
According to the letter, around 70% essential posts are still lying vacant in the SMBBMU Institute of Pharmacy for which only university authorities’ could be blamed for their sheer negligence as it is feared that PCP will deregister the Institute if it’s criteria is not fulfilled.
Sources said that about 250 students enrolled in the Institute of Pharmacy, established at Areeja Campus, reportedly are in a situation of fear and anxiety for their future academic development and extremely worried if the requirements of the PCP are not carried out quickly.
These sources further said that keeping in view the student / teacher ratio (one teacher for 10 students) at least 20 more teachers are required for which advertisement was floated three times in previous two years, applicants applied but appointments have been delayed for selection of blue eyed politically influential boys whose Ph.Ds were then incomplete. Sources further added that appointments in other colleges have been completed which also were advertised in the same advertisement but the Institute was meted out step-motherly treatment.
If this state of affairs continued in professional colleges and universities then who will save secondary and primary level education in Sindh, asked Hussain Bux Narejo, former MRD convenor while talking to this scribe on Wednesday. He said parents spend their life savings on their children but mismanagement and maladministration has ruined the education system which should have been assigned top priority at the very outset. He demanded appointments on merit to establish good governance which will also improve education standards and students will be able to compete anywhere.
