Prof. Dr. Tariq Umrani

𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

This post advocates for the need to conduct separate qualifying tests for English literature and linguistics candidates applying for positions as English lecturers and English Subject Specialists.

English literature and English linguistics/Applied Linguistics are entirely different fields. Historically, universities, not only in Pakistan but globally, offered English Literature as a major discipline catering to the English teaching profession in universities and colleges. Modern Linguistics/Applied Linguistics emerged as an independent discipline in the 1950s, introduced in Pakistani universities around 2000. The emergence of HEC and international scholarship opportunities in the first decade of 21st century led to the growth of professionals in Linguistics/Applied Linguistics, facilitating the launch of English language education programs in Pakistani universities.

Today, Pakistani universities offer English language education programs under various names like English linguistics/Applied Linguistics, English Language Teaching (ELT), and TESOL. These programs focus on language nature and functions, especially English, and second language teaching and learning. This differs significantly from English literature, which concentrates on literature's nature, history, criticism, genres, and major literary works in English or translation.

The introduction of new disciplines by universities reflects intellectual evolution, professional demands, and career opportunities. Government bodies like the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), and private organizations now accept these new disciplines for hiring professionals.

However, graduates with linguistics/applied linguistics degrees face challenges during selection processes. SPSC, for example, sets the same question paper for English literature and linguistics candidates, mostly literature-focused. This puts linguistics candidates at a disadvantage, as they are tested on a subject outside their expertise. This practice violates principles of fair play and equal opportunity and needs correction.
The practice of conducting a uniform test for English literature and linguistics candidates causes frustration among graduates. Many linguistics students lack literature background and struggle to prepare for literature-based exams. Forcing them to cover literature courses through crash programs is impractical and unjustified.

The University of Sindh's faculty induction practices, conducting separate tests for English literature and linguistics graduates, can serve as a model. It is crucial for government bodies to recognize and implement the following:

1. English literature and English linguistics/Applied Linguistics are distinct disciplines.
2. Tests and interviews should be conducted separately based on the major discipline.
3. Introduction of Linguistics in FPSC and SPSC syllabi for competitive exams (CSS/PCS).

Addressing this issue is vital to provide equal opportunities to deserving candidates. We are planning to formally contact the Sindh government and SPSC to rectify this policy malpractice.

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𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀

𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝘀

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰
𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀
𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲: 𝗣𝗞𝗥 𝟭𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬

𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟰𝗽𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝟲𝗽𝗺

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀' 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺, 𝗪𝗶𝗙𝗶

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼 𝟭, 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝘆, 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲, 𝗤𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱, 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗡𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝘀: 𝟬𝟯𝟯𝟯 𝟮𝟳𝟯𝟱𝟴𝟴𝟭
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𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝘀

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰
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𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟰𝗽𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝟲𝗽𝗺

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𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼 𝟭, 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝘆, 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲, 𝗤𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱, 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗡𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝘀: 𝟬𝟯𝟯𝟯 𝟮𝟳𝟯𝟱𝟴𝟴𝟭
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𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗢 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦
𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟰
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟯𝗽𝗺