Political Involvement in Higher Education

Abstract

The major objective of this study was to explore the Analysis of Political Involvement on the Institutions of Higher Education. The main aim was to seek views of the parliamentarians about positive and negative impacts of political involvement on the students, teachers and the supporting staff of the universities for the study. This descriptive study used Qualitative research approach to complete this study.  After examining the literature review an interview schedule, consisting on 11 items was developed by the researcher and same was used for data collection from the respondents. All the sitting parliamentarians of Division Faisalabad were the population of the present study. The researcher selected 20% (available) of parliamentarians as a sample using convenient sampling technique. For the purpose of data analysis; Description and transcription method was used. Findings and conclusion was drawn in the light of the responses given by the participants.

The analysis discovered that political involvement has great impact on the students, teachers, supporting staff, and overall performance of the universities. When students are facilitated to solve their problems, (i.e. admissions, migrations, degree verification, hostel accommodation, fee problem, thesis submission etc.) it showed the positive impact.  While examples of the negative impacts are: students’ involvement in politics, indiscipline, and infringement of rights, harassment, immoral behaviour and aversion from the study. Findings showed that teachers and are also affected by political involvement. It was suggested that there should be no political involvement in the institutions of the higher education. If involvement is necessary than it must be positive, i.e. check and balance on the institutions, helpful in policy making and guideline for the administration. The study recommends that over emphasized political control will suppress rather than enhance good governance and quality of education in the higher education sector. Issues like the Governor being Chancellor of the universities, political interference, appointments of council members and vice chancellors and relationships with staff and students need redress. Government and policy makers must design plans to elaborate the role of political bodies and implementations under rule to achieve the quality of education, autonomy of the institutions and of 100% performance by the students, teacher and supporting staff of the universities.