KARACHI - The Sindh University Teachers Association (SUTA) has opposed the announcement of Sindh University Jamshoro Vice Chancellor Dr Nazir Mughal to award honourary PhD degree to the Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah and Chief Justice of Federal Shariat Court Agha Rafique Ahmed Khan.
Suta President Dr Azhar Ali Shah and Secretary Dr Arfana Mallah in their joint statement strongly condemned this step of the VC. The Suta officials said though award of honourary degree to eminent persons with remarkable performance in relevant field is worldwide phenomenon of acknowledgement of their contribution but it has been used in our part of world is exception.
They said this tradition has been badly exploited in our educational institutions where the vice chancellor for the sake of political favour and privileges are giving degrees to persons who serve their interest adding that it is bizarre to use the highest academic degree for petty interest of individuals.
They also criticised the institution which approve such degrees without checking the merits of candidates. “This practice must be discouraged by statuary bodies and faculty members, who are true vanguard of prestigious institution.” The Suta secretary lashed out at the mindless wastage of public sector university's resources by university administration. She strongly condemned the political use of highest academic degree and said this would devalue the achievement of all PhD holders who earned their degrees with hard work. “It is nothing but to make the degree worthless for personal interests”, she said.