Daily Times

Sir: It is commendable that a right path for higher education in Pakistan has now been set. The basic objective is to lay a strong foundation for research and development through talented, qualified and eligible scholars. For this purpose, criteria were set to become eligible for a PhD programme. A minimum of 18 years of education is needed in the relevant field. Candidates must have obtained a 3.00/4.00 CGPA in the semester system or 60 percent marks in the annual system. A qualifying general aptitude test (GAT) subject was required to apply for admission into the PhD programme. In circumstances where the GAT subject test was not available in the NTS subject list, the candidates had to appear in the special subjects test organised by the university, and the qualifying percentage was 70 percent. The entry test (50 percent qualifying marks) and interview, organised by the university, was mandatory for admission to the PhD programme. Candidates working in government/semi-government institutions had to submit a no objection certificate (NOC) from the concerned organisation. The entry test was compulsory for all candidates, and only those candidates were eligible to appear for the interview who had passed the written test with 50 percent marks.

It is regretful to state here that, prior to the setting up of the above criteria, hundreds of PhD degrees were conferred in a short span of time without even assessing the quality and nature of research work. In most cases, the research work was not even worth a Master’s level degree. All such PhD scholars entered the programme just to get a degree and to be called ‘doctor sahib’, and to get an advance increment, which at that time was Rs 1,500 a month in the pay scale. Most such PhD degree holders have used their ‘qualification’ for their own personal interests. They have been elevated to higher positions on the basis of their acquired PhD degrees. Furthermore, a majority of these individuals had 16 years of education instead of 18 years and also completed their degree work within two and a half years. Most of the PhD degrees awarded more than 10 to 15 years ago need fresh scrutiny because all such persons are now at the helm of affairs. There are many PhD degree holders who did not attend any class nor did any research work. In some cases, it was also noticed that their so-called PhD work was completed by their subordinates. Their dissertations were approved by the examiners who had been appointed/selected by the candidates themselves. As such, a thorough investigation is needed on the PhD degrees awarded or rather distributed beyond the last 10 to 15 years, and their quality of work be reassessed. It must also be probed why, to date, their work could not be accepted for publication in any international journal of repute, and what significant contribution their papers have made in academic or even in practical research. It should also be probed why no one else has further extended their research findings and what ultimate benefits the country as a whole has gotten from their research work. It is a general feeling that PhD degrees were awarded to academically incompetent scholars.

I hope the Higher Education Commission (HEC) will give serious thought to my suggestions for scrutiny of such PhD degrees. There are several such PhD persons who are now occupying important positions, even principals and heads of institutions, but lack academic knowledge. The question arises: how has their research benefited their students, institutions and the nation as a whole? How has their PhD degree helped them in carrying out administrative tasks? They are neither competent nor have the ability to assess the work done by existing scholars. PhD courses in most institutions are run only for self-respect, just to show high-ups that a lot of work is being done and to plead their case for upgrading their college/institution to the university level.

RABIA ASHRAF

Lahore