Michael A Thompson, the principal of Aitchison College recently tendered his resignation, citing nepotism and political interference as the reasons behind his decision. The Australian educator’s extreme step appears to have been triggered by Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman’s move to waive the tuition fees for the sons of PML-N leader and federal minister Ahad Cheema.
Aitchison College caught in political storm
According to media reports, Ahad Cheema’s wife had appealed to the Punjab governor to exempt her sons’ fees. Subsequently, the governor issued an order granting a three-year waiver on their fees. Michael A Thompson, in his letter to the college staff, stated that “politics and nepotism have no place in schools” and that he has done his best to protect the school’s reputation while extending compassion to those in need.
Thompson asserted that the pursuit of protecting the school’s reputation and extending compassion is crucial. But there is a crucial difference between this pursuit and blatant policy manufacturing to accommodate certain individuals because such people insist on preferential treatment.
Thompson had also tendered his resignation back in September 2018, allegedly under pressure from political circles due to disciplinary action against some students. However, he later withdrew his resignation after then-Punjab governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and provincial education ministers visited him to persuade him to do so.
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It remains to be seen who will now take over the reins of the prestigious Aitchison College following Thompson’s resignation. Meanwhile, the usual interference and nepotism in educational institutions in Pakistan continue to cause concern for educators and parents alike.
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