ISLAMABAD: The over 4000 professors of public sector universities, employed under Tenure Track System (TTS) of Higher Education Commission (HEC) are now worried about their future as the HEC has revised the policy of TTS for financial constraints.
Through the revised funding policy shared with all universities, HEC has informed that it will not be able to fund any new TTS program for financial/grants constraints.
“HEC will not be able to provide funds against TTS owing to serious financial limitations. However, universities may undertake TTS hiring and arrange funds from their own resources,” HEC made it clear to all universities which want to start the TTS and recruit faculty under this program.
Since the TTS program was initiated by HEC and it was bearing a share of the attractive packages offered under this program, the universities, as feared by professors, would exploit the teachers by various means.
An office bearer of All Pakistan Tenure Track Faculty Association (APTTA) claimed that through the new policy, it is feared that HEC is going to ultimately stop the program, which according to him, has been very successful as compared to the existing basic pay scale (BPS) system in terms of research, development and advance studies in the universities.
According to him, under the direct control of universities, faculty members under the TTS system would be exploited by reduction in salaries and other perks offered under the program by HEC while sharing a major portion of the package of TTS faculty with universities.
The APTTA, which is the representative body of over 4000 TTS professors across the country, is scheduled to hold a press conference over the new issue on Friday as they are now worried about not only their salaries and other perks but also promotions and future of the program.
As per the new policy the commission will not be able to provide funds to new TTS programs owing serious financial limitations. However, universities, which want to start the program, may undertake TTS hiring and arrange funds from their own resources.
According to an official spokesperson of HEC, if universities prepare their budget in such a way that there is some cushion to allow them to recruit faculty on TTS, they may do so.
“This doesn’t mean they are allowed to change TTS Statutes prepared by HEC. The Quality Assurance department of HEC has an eye on these through institutional performance evaluation,” the spokesperson said while replying to a query about assurance about following the TTS statute by the universities initiating the TTS program.
As per the policy the universities not receiving HEC recurring funding but getting TTS funds would get capped TTS funds. Funding over and above the prescribed ceiling shall not be possible. Besides, for those universities/HEIs which are receiving HEC annual recurring funding and TTS grant the ceiling for TTS grant has been prescribed and merged into the annual recurring allocation.
“It is a fact that HEC’s funding has been stagnant since 2917-18. Last year the government increased the salary package of TTS. HEC allowed an increase and provided funds to the entire existing TTS faculty and capped the ceiling, meaning HEC is constrained to provide any additional funds in this regard,” the HEC spokesperson claimed.
Through the new policy, HEC claims, the commission will continue providing funds to the entire existing faculty. However in future HEC may not provide funds for recruitment of new TTS faculty until funding improves.
In reply to a query, the HEC official claimed that the commission would take action in case any university violates the TTS statute of HEC even if the university does not get funding for the program. Universities should only start the TTS recruitment when they are able to fulfil all requirements of the program clearly mentioned in the statute.
