Financial Woes and Cheating Allegations Plague Pakistan’s Provincial Academia

PAKISTAN: The education department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) faced a tumultuous year in 2023, characterized by financial challenges, delayed salaries, and widespread protests among teachers and support staff. 

A majority of the province’s higher education institutes grappled with financial deficits, leading to prolonged protests lasting over six months. Employees, facing economic hardships exacerbated by double-digit inflation, demanded salary increases and other benefits owed to them.

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Academia in Distress

Shahnawaz Khan, an educationist, expressed deep concern about the state of academia in K-P during 2023, labelling it as a “terrible year for education.” Major universities, including the University of Peshawar, Agriculture University, University of Engineering Peshawar, and Islamia College, faced financial deficits, impacting the livelihoods of their employees. Khan criticized the provincial government, stating, “After the 18th Amendment, it is the provincial government’s mandate to release funds to the universities, but clearly, they have been occupied with bigger things than education.”

The financial constraints in universities contributed to a decline in the student population at public universities. Khan emphasized that whoever assumes leadership in the province must address the sorry state of the education department and recognize its profound impact on students.

Challenges in Entrance Examinations

Beyond financial issues, the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), administered by the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA), faced significant challenges. The Peshawar High Court mandated multiple retakes of the MDCAT due to widespread complaints of cheating. Despite arrests related to cheating, the ETEA faced severe criticism from students who lamented its failure to prevent malpractices during the examination.

Imran Takkar, an activist based in Peshawar, highlighted the broader decline in educational standards over the past few years. He emphasized the urgent need for substantial financial investment to drive meaningful reforms, such as providing free uniforms, stationery, and bags, implementing second-shift programs, constructing schools, and establishing alternative education methods. 

Takkar also raised concerns about the lower education standards in merged districts and rural areas, asserting that improvements in urban education are imperative for quality education across the province.