A former Professor at the University of Technology (UNITECH) in Lae, Papua New Guinea, has strongly criticized the recent UNITECH VC sacking and exposed deep-seated issues within the university administration.
Dr. Ram Bilas Misra, who served as a Professor and Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at UNITECH, shared his candid views, urging immediate and long-term reforms.
Exposing ‘Ill Motives’ and Administrative Decay
Dr. Misra’s main concern centers on the influence of certain staff members and structural failures in the university’s governance:
- HoDs as ‘Puppets’: He asserts that junior staff members are manipulating their Heads of Departments (HoDs) and using them as “puppets for their ill motives”.
- Contractual Transparency: Dr. Misra argues that HoDs should not be forced to reveal their recommendations when approving staff contracts.
The Call to End Teacher Monopoly
To prevent the victimisation of staff and teachers, Dr. Misra insists that an administrator’s contract should be limited in duration.
- Limit Term Length: He recommends that a contract should not be given for more than two terms, or six years.
- Ending Victimization: Misra claims that long-term contracts have led to a “monopoly of teachers” who have subsequently “victimized other staff and teachers”.
Necessary Reforms to Deter Political Influence
Addressing the potential for political roots to form within the academic institution, Dr. Misra provided a key recommendation for administrative personnel:
- Rotation of Registrars: He advocates for assistant registrars and registrars to be rotated among the country’s universities. This system, he notes, is a common practice in many other countries specifically to deter the establishment of political roots.
A Message to Non-Teaching Academics
In his comments on the ongoing saga, Dr. Misra also expressed disagreement with a colleague, Dr. Telue, regarding academic duties. Dr. Misra stated that if Dr. Telue finds a “true and dedicated teacher of the University,” he should resign from all non-teaching jobs and restrict himself to teaching duties. He stressed that it should not be a monopoly for any individual to continue in non-teaching assignments for more than two years.
(Dr. Ram Bilas Misra is currently a Professor of Mathematics in the School of Natural Sciences in Adama Science & Technology University in Ethiopia.)