Karachi (PR): In a seminar organized under the banner of National Workers Front Gilgit-Baltistan (NWF-GB), various student organizations demanded stringent measures to put an end to incidents of campus harassment in colleges and universities.
The seminar made the following demands to counter the evil of campus harassment in universities across Pakistan.
1. Anti-harassment cells with an independent governing body be established across educational institutions. They should be directly linked with human rights institutions rather than subjecting to the direct control of campus management.
2. Strict laws should be introduced regarding harassment and their implementation should be ensured. Instead of blaming and penalizing the victims/students, the perpetrators should be punished.
3. A robust mechanism be introduced to ensure merit-based appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff. A teaching license should only be provided after thorough assessment of mental and social behavior, track record, and necessary training of the candidates. Similarly, harassment awareness and its prevention be made part of the curriculum.
4. To counter campus harassment stemming from teachers’ unchecked authority in semester exams, an impartial e-marking or online system, similar to examination boards be implemented. This shift from sole teacher control would prevent student exploitation by also providing transparency and fairness in the marking process.
5. Only responsible officials of harassment cell and relevant security personnel be given access to the security cameras installed in universities.
6. Students’ Unions be restored, and the representation of students in university senate and policy-making be ensured.
