By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: The administration of Kinnaird College for Women on Wednesday terminated the services of three of its faculty members, repatriating four others to the Punjab government.
According to sources, the faculty members along with some others had pointed fingers at the alleged irregularities in recent admissions, besides showing strong resentment over the appointment of Naima Khursheed as the college’s registrar and head of examination department.
A faculty member, seeking anonymity, said the KC Board of Governors in its meeting held on December 5, had constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate different allegations leveled by some faculty members. The ‘action’ against teachers is being taken as a victimization act by the administration, the source said, adding that the teachers had reservation over the said committee as no representative from the education department was part of it.
The faculty members repatriated to the Higher Education Department include Saira Malik, Head of Political Science Department, Shibba Syed, Head of Urdu Department, Farrukh Sohail, Head of Islamic Studies Department and Helen Khokhar, Head of Physics Department
The faculty members whose contract services were terminated include Sadaf Munir and Asma Jamil from the Psychology Department and Zarina Rizvi from Urdu Department.
Talking to The News, Sadaf Munir said the teachers were victimized only because they had raised their voice against the administration’s unjust and unfair policies, including the appointment of Naima Khursheed as college’s registrar. She even claimed the said official was earlier removed by Queen Marry College over allegations of corruption. Sadaf Munir alleged the admissions were made even in October and November, despite the fact the process was completed in September. “They are replacing the best with the worst” she commented, saying those serving on contract were not issued any notices as required by the rules. She also alleged that the administration was asking the teachers to remain silent, issuing threats of consequences.
When contacted, KC Principal Dr Bernadette L Dean denied the allegations, saying no one was victimized. The college administration is free to keep or let someone go, the KC being a private institution, she added.
She said some faculty members were repatriated as the administration was planning to induct highly qualified teachers as faculty members. She said the position of registrar was advertised and the appointment was made purely on merit.
She refuted the allegation that contracts were yet not expired, saying Sadaf Munir had even applied for renewal of her contract.
Dr Dean said two of the faculty members were serving the college on contract after their retirement, adding one of them, Asma Jamil, had even asked her (Principal) to relieve her.
She said, during an interview with students sometime ago, she had held Jesus Christ, Nelson Mandela and Gandhi as her ideal, adding, unfortunately, some faculty members were busy in propaganda against her since then,
To a question, she said the fact-finding committee constituted by the KC BoG had yet to submit its report. Those leveling allegations had even taken a U-turn in the said meeting, claiming their signatures on complaints were forged, she said.
When contacted, Punjab Higher Education Department secretary Ahad Khan Cheema said the department had yet to receive the repatriation orders. However, he added, the KC principal was advised to hold-on until the inquiry committee submitted its report as the conduct of administration was under question.
“At this time, it simply looks like clash of interests”, he commented.
He said the KC was neither a government nor totally private institute, adding it was being run under a special arrangement with its representation from different government departments, including education, finance and law, on its BoG. Naima Khursheed was not available for comments.
Source: The News International
Thursday, December 24, 2009
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