Public universities will also require approval of the University Grants Commission (UGC) -- the higher education watchdog -- and the education and finance ministries.

The UGC has recently lifted an embargo on the appointment of teachers and officials to the 21 public universities.

However, many teachers view the new appointment rule an interference in the autonomy of the public universities guaranteed under the Public University Act, 1973.

Education Minister Osman Farruk however brushed aside the allegation and said the new rule was introduced to eliminate irregularities in the appointments.

"We have asked the UGC to frame a unified appointment rule for all public universities after investigating irregularities in the appointments," he recently told the BBC Radio.

All appointments to public universities were suspended for two months for this reason, he added.

But former education minister ASHK Sadek in an interview with the BBC Radio said the new rule may hinder the autonomy of the universities.

Earlier, the UGC formed a committee on the appointment and promotion of teachers and staff.

The committee recommended four first divisions/classes for appointment to science, engineer and commerce departments, three first divisions/classes for other departments and two first divisions/classes for English.

The committee recommended at least 15 publications to be eligible for promotion to professor and eight to associate professor.

There are widespread allegations that public universities often recruit teachers and staff in excess of allocated posts with political motives and press the UGC for additional funds.

Less qualified candidates get preference over the deserving ones in university teachers' appointment due to groupings linked to political parties, the allegations go.