Discussion is good here and not to be taken personally.
Your 'best and brightest', as you refer to them, will target the fields that will get them handsome returns and perhaps get them out of the country. Whether that be through medical specialties (where a large chunk of the students who excel within our education system head to) or Engineering and then to teaching oriented positions abroad.
No society today has been able to incentivize teaching as you have suggested. There is a shortage of various professions within Pakistan, including skilled primary/secondary teachers, which is likely the foundation upon which the education system is built.
In terms of the output/returns till now, we don't see a significant technology/patent portfoleo etc coming out of our increased focus over the past decade.
What is the goal that you want to reach before the incentive should end?
Ayaz
On 26/06/2013 8:07 AM, Moon Willow wrote:
We as a society need to realize that the best and brightest are to be attracted to do research and teach. That's the only way forward. Dr Atta in his efforts to improve the higher education in Pakistan was right to have included a tax incentive. Taxation code is a potent tool to change population behavior. The results have been positive. The question is are we there where we wanted to be. If yes, by all means withdraw the incentive and if the answer is no, it doesn't make much sense to withdraw it as the cost is not staggering to cause a dent in the budget anyway.
Regards,
-Iftekhar
--- In pakgrid@yahoogroups.com, Asif Mufti <anmufti@...> wrote:
>
> Third World in general tend to be one dimensional not because they see no value in art, humanities sports etc but it is because of lack of resources. The thinking goes: If you can't put food on the table why do you want to go to the museum and pay entrance fee and what immediate benefit will that derive.Â
> For the same reason, students refuse to diversify there educational background meaning you will not find students who have bachelors in ME doing there Masters in EE and say Ph.D. is Media Sciences. If they do well in Bachelors ME, they will do ME Masters and probably from the same school .... the thinking goes "Why take more risks" it is economical insecurity at grass root level.
> Recently, we hired son of a taxi driver. After talking to him I see the panic the family has gone through over time. Five sisters, one brother and old parents with no social security.Â
> I got of my high horse 5 years ago since I arrived from abroad.Â
> As a Academician and people who have been lucky enough to have received advance education, we should try to go to the root cause.
> Regards
>
> ________________________________
> From: Ayaz <ayaza75@...>
> To: pakgrid@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 6:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [pakgrid] Withdrawal of tax exemption: Teachers, researchers berate decision
>
>
>
> Â
> Yes, that is a serious problem. Not only a vast majority have a one-dimensional mindset, they also have a serious disconnect with the concept of basic economics. Many of the engineers and researchers have a tough time competing for mid-range positions abroad. A greater appreciation of humanities and art/music/sports could broaden their outlook. I think the problem is not necessarily associated with Pakistani higher-ed but also with primary/secondary education and societal attitudes in general.
>
> Ayaz
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 21/06/2013 10:11 AM, abdul sheikh wrote:
>
> Â
> >I am not qualified to comment on tax exemption because I live abroad. However, it is my humble opinion that the engineering graduates that are being produced at Pakistani universities are one dimensional. They only know about the technical subjects and lack knowledge in humanities and arts. They lack leadership and creative thinking skills needed for leadership. This is why landlords, army generals, and feudal lords still run the country. Music and arts are essential for a progressive society.
> >
> >
> >From: Arshad Ali Shahid <arshad.ali@...>
> >To: pakgrid@yahoogroups.com
> >Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 8:28 AM
> >Subject: Re: [pakgrid] Withdrawal of tax exemption: Teachers, researchers berate decision
> >
> >Â
> >Much of question raised by Mr. Sheikh Usman N. has been answered by Mr. Asif Mufti. I would simple add that in 80's many S&T scholars completed Ph.D. and many did not come back; those came back to Pakistan, left soon. I remember Mr. Javid Jabbar, the then Minister of S&T cried in one of CSP Islamabad event and admitted that we could not offer job to these highly qualified people. Mr. Tahir Ch. is getting Old (and started forgetting things). Then we see the Era of 2000- when Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman brought revolution in Education especially IT, and we see so many private sector Universities competing with the world class universities. Now you see Ph.Ds in even public sector Universities as a result of these incentives and TT salary package.
> >
> I am surprised that many voices have been raised against faculty/researcher incentives. But nobody has condemned the relaxation given to "Music/Fashion Shows". They MUST be having good missions; Govt should open more Universities for Music and Fashion design and announce exemption to those faculty; good luck to my country men/women.
> >Â Arshad Ali Shahid (Ph.D) Professor and Head, Department of computer science, National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Islamabad Phone# 111-128-128 ext. 204
> >On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 11:39 AM, Sheikh Usman N. <usman.nadeem@...> wrote:
> >Â
> >>Dear Dr. Arshad,
> >>
> >>
> >>Can you please justify the quality of school, college, university teachers present in universities because of this tax break which was in place? With all due respect sir, I find most of them working for money rather than creating a knowledge environment.
> >>
> >>
> >>I am an engineer, why should I not have the tax break? I am a bigger target for brain drain rather than a university/college teacher. Kindly elaborate on this. Thanks.
> >>
> >>
> >>Regards
> >>Usman.
> >>On Thu, Jun 20, 2013 at 10:58 PM, Arshad Ali Shahid <arshad.ali@...> wrote:
> >>Â
> >>>Dear Colleagues,
> >>>AoA,
> >>>We must
> appreciate Dr.
> Amir Hayat for
> initiating
> this call. It
> is unfortunate
> that the
> Punjab Govt
> has
> reduced/exempted
> the tax on
> "Music and
> fashion
> shows",
> whereas the
> federal Govt
> has withdrawn
> the tax
> exemption
> given to
> teacher &
> Researcher.  This show the interest and intention of our leaders for alleviation illiteracy and poverty.  In a country where shoes are sold in Air-Conditioned shops and books on footpath, you can expect this attitude from our leaders. They are not interested to bring the big fish (landlords and industrialist) in the tax-net  rather show their efficiency to IMF  by such withdrawing such exemptions and increasing electricity/petrol prices etc. , so that they can get more loans and enjoy next five years. We should stand up and raise our voice against this move.
> >>>Arshad Ali Shahid (Ph.D) Professor and Head, Department of computer science, National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Islamabad Phone# 111-128-128 ext. 204
> >>>On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 9:38 PM, Amir Hayat <amir.hayat@...> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>Â
> >>>>Dear Colleagues, AOA
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>I believe you are aware that the government is planning to remove the 75% income tax exemption from university & research institutes employees.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman is the architect of current higher education policies that includes better salary packages and 75% tax exemption for faculty members of universities and research institutes. The main objective was to attract smart people in academia so that both education and research flourishes in Pakistan. The policies did work, today when you enter any good university, you find people who are highly educated, active in research and as good as their counterparts in industry.Â
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>While people in academia do NOT enjoy as many perks as their counterparts in government jobs and industry yet they do get a decent salary and 75% tax exemption that tries to compensate for the otherwise wide gap in the related perks & privileges. If the government is planning to withdraw this tax exemption then time is not very far when they will ax the Tenure Track and similar other Systems and take the higher education sector to the bad old days.Â
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>The citizens of Pakistan had high hopes from PML(N) that they will adopt education friendly policies and will significantly increase the education budget. On the contrary the are adopting policies that will discourage people from joining education sector and encourage them to leave it and join either industry or universities in middle east and in West.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>At a personal level I will urge the prime minister and the finance minister to withdraw this anti 'higher education & research' policy change from the budget. If that does not happen in the next few days then the university teachers association should give a call for peaceful protests all over the country.
> >>>>Regards,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Dr. Amir Hayat
> >>
> >>
> >>-- Sheikh Usman N. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight with you, then you win" -Gandhihttp://sheikhusman.blogspot.com/
> >>http://twitter.com/sheikh85
> >>
> >>
>
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