The field of research in Pakistan faces many challenges, and the situation is worse than just the inability of students to think critically. This problem is also related to problems within educational institutions, and what is even more concerning is the rise of the “research mafia” that is corrupting the academic system. Imagine a bright, hard-working student working for months or even years on a meaningful research project, only to receive equal or greater recognition from someone who has paid to be an author. This disillusionment leads talent to leave the country or abandon their passion altogether.
The loss of such potential is not only a personal tragedy, but also a national tragedy. When research becomes just a business transaction, it loses its transformation.
The power of motherhood. Research should seek truth, explore new ideas, and push the boundaries of what we know. However, in Pakistan, it is becoming a numbers game where the quantity of publications outweighs the quality.
In Pakistan, research usually begins at postgraduate level. This means that students are not trained in critical thinking and analysis from an early age. This weak foundation makes it difficult for students to understand how to conduct appropriate research when they reach the higher education level.
Educational institutions, both public and private, rarely help students acquire the skills needed to excel in research. Most universities in Pakistan have few research centers and those that do have inadequate facilities. This lack of resources results in low quality research. Many educational institutions lack the funding and infrastructure to support students and faculty in producing high-quality academic output. Additionally, teachers often fail to guide students properly.
However, the most worrying problem is corruption in Pakistan’s research and publishing sector. This “research mafia” operates by offering authorship on research papers in exchange for money. These days, paid advertisements on social media platforms often encourage students to become co-authors by paying a hefty sum of money.
These amounts can range from a few thousand rupees to a lakh of rupees, and people can get participation in research activities without actually donating. This practice is corrupting the entire academic field because it fosters a system in which publications are not based on merit or actual scholarly input. This has serious implications for the quality of research in Pakistan. It encourages students to take shortcuts and devalues true academic work. People who pay to take on research jobs can gain recognition without actually contributing to knowledge.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) must take immediate action to develop policies to eradicate this mafia. Rigorous checks should be carried out on the credibility of research papers, and the publication process should be carefully monitored. Without appropriate intervention, research standards in Pakistan will continue to decline and students will continue to lose faith in the academic system.
Manur Noshawan
lahore
Published at Dawn on October 28, 2024
