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| Status of Social Sciences in public sector universities of Sindh, Pakistan |
| Sanaullah Rustamani* |
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Social Science subjects are very dynamic and pave the way for the development of society. But in Pakistan, Social Science disciplines are considered of less significance. Most learners opt to study Natural Sciences since most desire a degree in the market-driven science and business subjects so that they can easily find employment. Educational institutes also allocate limited funding for Social Sciences compared with Natural Science subjects.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) formed the ‘Committee for Development of Social Sciences and Humanities in Pakistan (CDSSHP)’ in 2003 (HEC n.d.) to devise plans for promoting Social Sciences in the country and tasked it (among other things) to organise conference/s to invite social scientists and seek recommendations based on their experience and expertise for the former (Ibid.). Researchers, however, believe that the HEC focuses more on Natural Sciences and offers fewer options of higher education in the disciplines of Social Science. For example, in 2011-2012, HEC approved only 4% research projects pertaining to Social Sciences, while 96% were science projects (Mirza 2014). HEC has allocated ‘30% research funds for Social Science research’ over the years claiming that ‘there are fewer research projects in Social Sciences’, and that this is not due to shrinkage of budget, but due to ‘lack of interest of the researchers.’ The researchers either donot apply for funding or their project don’t meet the requirements of HEC (Ibid.).
In public-sector universities of Sindh-Pakistan, students prefer to seek admission in engineering, medical science and business studies. Social Science subjects such as Sociology, History, Psychology and International Relations etc. are their last choice. In some of these disciplines, there is a very limited faculty due to lack of admissions. This paper analyses the status of Social Sciences by collecting data using a survey questionnaire and interviews from the Social Science departments of the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, which is believed to be the ‘second oldest university of Pakistan’ (Wikipedia 2014). The respondents included professors and final year students of these departments.
For the development of a society like ours it is imperative that our students should not confine themselves to limited knowledge and live in a closed ‘shell’. UNESCO also ‘encourages multi- disciplinary approach’ to examine problems pertaining to human rights, racism, the status of women and population etc. (Waseem 2001, p. 84). Based on study findings, it is recommended that in order to make Social Science subjects meaningful, there should be ample jobs both in the private and public sectors. The HEC should offer scholarships and research grants to patronise social scientists.
References
HEC n.d. ‘Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities’, Higher Education Commission Website, <http://www.hec.gov.pk/INSIDEHEC/DIVISIONS/AECA/SOCIALSCIENCESARTSHUMANITIES/Pages/Introduction.aspx>, accessed 18 November 2014.
Mirza, S.F. 2014, ‘Subject(ive) choice’, Herald Beta, 8 January,
<http://herald.dawn.com/2014/01/08/subjective-choice-2.html>, accessed 21 November 2014.
Waseem, M. 2001, ‘Underdevelopment of Social Sciences in Pakistan’, in S. H. Hashmi (ed.), The State of Social Sciences in Pakistan, Council of Social Sciences (COSS), Pakistan,
<http://cosspak.org/books/Hashmi-edited-book-SSB-full%20document-final.pdf>, accessed 21 November 2014.
Wikipedia 2014, ‘Jamshoro’, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamshoro>, accessed 21 November 2014.
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Mr. Sanaullah
Rustamani is a columnist and doctoral candidate at the University of Sindh,
Jamshoro, Pakistan.
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