By: Prof (R) Dr
Muhammad Younas
Ex Dean FAH
E-mail: myounas07@gmail.com
Having seen an article by Dr M Jassar Aftab, I am compelled and obligated to say a few words in this regard and to throw light on some of the belated but real facts. Dr Jassar seems to have met a surprise to learn that BS (Hons.) Poultry Science degree has to be accredited by the National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council (NAEAC) at HEC, Islamabad.
Before I proceed further may I request
the readers to see my previous article “Hallucination of B.Sc.(Hons.) Animal
Husbandry degree” published by Dr Khalid
Mahmood Shouq in N&V (June 8-15, 2019 page # 10), in which I have
mentioned the earlier efforts in establishing both Animal Husbandry and PVMC
councils initiated by both Faculties (1992-1995). These facts are a part of the
history and known to many who have either retired, forgotten and many of them yielded
to their fate as being helpless, destitute, impoverished or left un-concerned. However,
I know some of my friends who even crossed the fence in search of greener
pastures.
The B.Sc.(Hons.)
Animal Husbandry (AH) degree was closed through an administrative order by
the honorable Chancellor on October 4,
2003 at Governor House, Lahore. This closure was done on the request and
recommendation of PVMC without any thoughtful discussion, debate or realizing
the after effects of this closure. This degree was a part and parcel of the
first schedule of Section 9 of PVMC Act 1996. The then Dean FAH and Vice
Chancellor, UAF protested at the spot but they were not given any heed. The
Pakistan Animal Husbandry Council (PAHA) wrote letters (FAH/219 dated Oct 21,
2003 and PAHA/220 dated Nov 21, 2003) to Chairman HEC to intervene regarding abolishing
of AH degree and initiation of 5 year unified (composite) DVM degree at UAF. The
PAHA also reminded him the mandate of PVMC which is a regulatory body of
veterinary practitioners and should take care its given mandate. It was further
emphasized that personal differences of some people should not debar people
seeking education in Animal Husbandry - a discipline well recognized all over
the world.
Our faculty as well as UAF was in a state
of confusion, upset, distress and were forced to do as said in the orders and to
hand over the admission applications (~ 500) to the next Faculty for
processing. It was realized to many that these fishy and illegal efforts will
have a deleterious and damaging effects on animal science education, research
and in both sectors of animal production and health in the country.
Afterwards the UVAS, Lahore came with the
idea of starting five (5) new degree programs including B.Sc.(Hons.) Poultry Science. In the presence of whatever the reasons
or justifications, this was against the spirit of the decision made by the
Chancellor and stand of the PVMC itself. The B.Sc.(Hons.)AH was closed with the
assumption that one Five (5) Year Unified
(composite) DVM Degree graduate will be sufficient in the field to cater
the needs of the Animal Health and Production Sectors. The PVMC didn’t bother
and also didn’t speak a single word on the initiation of these degrees of B.Sc.(Hons.)
(in Poultry Science, Dairy Technology, Applied Microbiology, D Pharmacy and
Bioinformatics), while these degrees were not a part of the First Schedule of their Act 1996. This was the first time to think about the repercussions of such a
decision?
When UAF Sub-Campus Toba Tek Singh was in
making, it was asked to start the degree of B.Sc.(Hons.) Poultry Science. Interest of the poultry sector big
guns and local politicians also wanted this degree to be launched as Toba Tek
Singh. As Toba Tek Singh, Kamalia and Samundri were one of the important hubs
of poultry business. On June 5,
2005, the Chancellor inaugurated this UAF Sub-Campus and the degree of B.Sc.(Hons.)
Poultry Science (BS Poultry Science, name recently
changed in UAF Syndicate meeting on 22.10.2019) was initiated. This was the second time to think about
repercussions of such a decision?
The honorable Vice Chancellor, UAF wanted to start the B.Sc.(Hons.) Animal Husbandry at the Faculty in 2007. Although he knew the mandate of PVMC very much, he was respectfully briefed that we shouldn’t start this degree at Faculty as the case of this degree was Ress-subjudice. However, on the demand of many stake holders, he asked FAH to start a degree in Animal Science. We prepared and planned this degree in 2007-2008. So the degree of B.Sc.(Hons.) Animal Science (BS Animal Science name changed recently in UAF Syndicate meeting on 22.10.2019) was approved at UAF on July 21, 2008.
After launching the Animal Science degree
at FAH, UAF, I asked the PVMC in 2009-10 to accredit this degree and bring this
under the umbrella of PVMC Act. This
was the third time to think about the repercussions of such a decision.
Having got refusal from PVMC, we
approached the NAEAC, at HEC to accredit this degree. The NAEAC AIC made a zero
visit to FAH for external evaluation of our degrees at Dept of Livestock Management
at our Campus for this accreditation on
July 26-27, 2011. The committee made a complete and comprehensive evaluation
of the Dept facilities, Faculty, labs & farms facilities and submitted its detailed
report for accreditation of B.Sc.(Hons.) Animal Science degree and postgraduate
programs (M.Sc.(Hons.) and PhD) to HEC, Islamabad. Next visit of NAEAC accreditation
committee (AIC) visit was held on Dec
17-18, 2018 at UAF Campus to complete this process. Furthermore, it was also
recommended to accredit B.Sc.(Hons.)
Dairy Science proposed for 2019.
Some of our colleagues started the same
degree at UOS, Sargodha though they were reluctant but University management
insisted to start this degree. Anyway this B.Sc.(Hons.)
Animal Science degree at University of Sargodha (UOS), Sargodha was initiated
in 2010. The MS program was launched in
2012 and the accreditation of these
programs took place on April 29, 2014. The AIC of NAEAC pointed out some limitations
and weaknesses during their visit. The UOS was smart enough to fulfill the
legitimate needs of the NAEAC (HEC), Islamabad and these degrees were evaluated
and accredited in a visit on Dec 13-14, 2016.
The Committee further recommended to accredit BS Poultry Science at Toba Tek Singh operating there since 2005.
As stated above, when we asked the PVMC
to place this degree under their umbrella, they refused. Rather the then
Secretary PVMC asked me to use my good office to stop the initiation of
B.Sc.(Hons.) Animal Science at UOS, Sargodha. The PVMC also wrote some letters
to UOS (PVMC-SGD-2014/1019 dated Sep 23, 2014) on this subject. I could not do
so at that time rather I replied to him that UOS had the same compulsion and
reasons to initiate this degree as the management of UVAS, Lahore had at the
time of the start of five degree
programs other than a 5 yr unified (composite) DVM degree. Lot many other
things, comments, commentaries, worries and concerns are reserved for any other
time.
Later, UVAS executed (2007) the
development of CUVAS and B.Sc. Poultry Science (later changed to BS Poultry
Science) was initiated at Bahawalpur. This
was the fourth time to think about the repercussions of such a decision. Other than UVAS, Lahore; UAF Sub-Campus
Toba Tek Singh and CUVAS, Bahawalpur, the degree of PS has also been initiated
at BZU, Multan; MNSUA, Multan; Gomal University, DIK; IUB, Bahawalpur; Riphah
International University, Lahore and Riphah College of Veterinary Sciences,
Lahore and is likely to be initiated at other institutions as well. Even at
this stage students are being absorbed by the poultry sector. Once this
accreditations are completed Government’s livestock and poultry production wings
are likely to accept this and other degrees. That clearly speaks of the need
and necessity of the production degrees in the country. They can’t keep their
eyes closed.
Under the current state of affairs, when
PVMC has become a purely veterinary health body, Agricultural Council is the
only option for HEC to get this and other production degrees accredited. The 5-year
composite DVM degree decision was basically wrong and few bulldozed (degree)
this decision for their vested interest? When PVMC allowed UVAS for initiation
of five degrees realizing that Universities can’t survive financially with a
degree or two, it’s too late to ask who should accredit degrees other than DVM.
Let’s acknowledge that knowledge is expanding and more degrees at many places are
deemed to come in future.
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