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Dawn (Pakistan)

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Despite govt intervention, Karachi University teachers refuse to end exam boycott

Protesting employees participate in a meeting at the University of Karachi.—Dawn KARACHI: Despite intervention by the provincial authorities, strong opposition from teachers to signing any agreement that does not include a firm commitment to immediate financial relief compelled the Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) to continue its protest, including the boycott of semester examinations on the campus. The unanimous decision was taken at the Kuts general body meeting held on Tuesday. Sources said the meeting was held against the backdrop of a recently released notification from the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC), following a meeting of the education commission’s head with the representatives of Kuts, Officers Welfare Association (OWA) and Employees Welfare Association (EWA) on June 1. The notification said that a six-member committee, led by the chairperson of the SHEC and comprising the secretary of the universities and boards department, secretary of SHEC, president Kuts, presidents EWA and OWA, had been set up to look into the issues being faced by KU employees. SHEC forms six-member body to look into issues being faced by varsity employees The notification also said that the representatives of Kuts, EWA and OWA had decided “that the ongoing boycott of exams shall be withdrawn with immediate effect. The university administration shall make necessary arrangements for rescheduling the affected examinations and notify the revised examination schedule accordingly.” The committees’ terms of reference included the responsibilities to examine the issues and grievances of the teaching and non-teaching staff, review the relevant rules, policies, financial implications and administrative matters pertaining to the issues under consideration and hold consultations with all stakeholders. “The committee will finalise its recommendations within 40 days,” the notification said. However, at the Kuts general body meeting, the majority of the teachers rejected the notification and questioned the SHEC’s leadership on the matter. Explaining Kuts’ position in the June 1 meeting and the notification, its president Dr Syed Ghufran Alam said that while they appreciated the steps taken by the SHEC and that the employees were always available for further dialogue, the decision for a boycott was made by the general body and that’s the only relevant forum to call it off. “During the meeting, we did express optimism that the general body might consider the proposal. The general body, however, didn’t approve it due to the (negative) environment created by the KU administration,” he said, adding that teachers were unwilling to show any flexibility unless their dues were paid. Sources also said that the employees’ frustration and resentment against the KU vice chancellor could be gauged from the fact that they didn’t agree with the SHEC’s proposal to let the KU vice chancellor participate in the June 1 meeting. It might be recalled that the KU teachers have been boycotting the semester exams since May 5 over non-payment of their dues for evening classes, copy checking, exam supervision, paper setting, exam vigilance, house ceiling and leave encashment among other things. Now joined by the non-teaching staff, they have called for an investigation into the financial crisis at the campus and refused to end the strike until the fulfilment of their demands. Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026

Dawn (Pakistan)

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Karachi University students’ future in limbo as teachers’ exam boycott drags on

• Fee structure is on par with private universities but facilities are nowhere near the same standard, laments a student • Kuts admits students are suffering, holds ‘bad administration’ responsible for their woes • Students wonder why CM, Sindh govt remain silent spectators to crisis at country’s largest university KARACHI: Nearly 50,000 students at the country’s largest university have been left in limbo as the teachers’ boycott of semester examinations over what they claimed unpaid dues enters its fourth week, disrupting academic plans and causing growing anxiety among students and their parents. With no clear timeline for the resumption of exams, many students are fearing further delays to the academic calendar, shortened semesters and the loss of their semester break. Lack of response from the provincial government, especially from the chief minister who is the controlling authority of all public sector universities across Sindh, to resolve the dispute has also been criticised. The KU teachers have been boycotting the semester exams since May 5 over non-payment of their dues for evening classes, copy checking, exam supervision, paper setting, exam vigilance, house ceiling and leave encashment among other things. They have called for an investigation into the financial crisis at the campus and refuse to end the strike until the fulfilment of their demands. However, the prolonged boycott has put students under increased stress and frustration. “I don’t want to continue further studies at KU anymore. I’m so fed up with this broken system,” a frustrated student told Dawn. He said he paid his fees on time but never got any facilities accordingly. Similarly, a first-year student from the Department of International Relations said, “It’s my first semester at KU. I am still learning how the system works and adapting to university life. I prepared extensively for the exams, studying day and night, only to have them cancelled unexpectedly. My biggest concern now is that if the exams are rescheduled during the semester break, as it is rumoured, the entire break will be spent preparing for and taking exams. This uncertainty has completely disrupted my plans and added unnecessary stress,” she said. “Just like many other students, I am frustrated due to the prolonged delay in examinations and the lack of clear communication from both the university and teachers. We are uncertain about when exams will take place and worried about the impact on the next semester,” said a student from the Department of English. He said his main concern is the disruption to the academic calendar and the potential loss of study time in the upcoming semester. Similarly, a final-year Visual Studies student said he supported the teachers’ demands but added that such disputes between the administration and the employees had become a recurring issue at the university. “And eventually, teachers and the administration reach agreements, but students are the ones who suffer the most from such delays,” he said. Expressing concern over the academic calendar, the student said almost a month had already been lost and students had not been informed how the university planned to make up for the delay. “We do not know whether the next semester will be shortened, whether multiple papers will be scheduled on the same day, or how the lost time will be managed,” the student said. He pointed out that examination and semester fees had increased steadily over the past few years but the quality of education and university services had not improved. “The fee structure is now approaching that of private universities but the facilities are nowhere near the same standard,” he said, adding: “Sometimes I wonder whether it would have been better to enrol in a private university.” One student wondered why the provincial authorities and relevant government bodies did not look into the matters at KU, which is the largest university not just in Sindh but also in the country. Similar questions were also raised by students on various social media platforms, where they criticised the Sindh CM and the Universities and Boards Department, and asked why the chief minister was not intervening in the matter and why no step was being taken to fix the broken system at KU. Talking to Dawn, Karachi University Teachers Society (Kuts) President Syed Ghufran Alam said there was no doubt that students were the ultimate sufferers whenever such disputes arose. However, it’s the “bad university administration” which causes this suffering, he added. “Students are suffering, but not because of teachers. The responsibility lies with the bad management,” he said and emphasised that the administration was responsible for ensuring both educational services to students paying hefty fees as well as timely salaries for employees. But, he said that it has failed in ensuring both. Alam said teachers had repeatedly raised their issues with the administration but were left with no choice except to continue their protest. “For the past six to seven years, the management has failed to resolve issues through dialogue and has instead adopted a rigid approach, which has brought matters to this stage,” he said. On examinations, he said students would be given sufficient time to prepare once the dispute was resolved. “ We will facilitate students and take the student organisations on board. Any decision to restart exams will be announced a few days in advance,” he said. However, he stressed that the final decision on examinations and the academic calendar rested with the university administration. KU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi was not available for comment. Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2026

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Despite govt intervention, Karachi University teachers refuse to end exam boycott

Karachi University students’ future in limbo as teachers’ exam boycott drags on