ISLAMABAD, Jan 2: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to set up a centre of excellence in law to improve teaching and research standards in the discipline.

This decision was taken at a meeting of National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC), which concluded here on Friday. The NCRC recommended that the HEC should examine the proposal and take necessary measures for establishing the centre as soon as possible.

Reviewing the first draft curriculum of the existing scheme of LLB studies, a three-year degree programme, the committee suggested that a five-year LLB degree programme should be considered to be implemented in the Law departments of public sector universities.

The NCRC meeting observed that the Pakistan Bar Council's "Affiliation of Private Law Colleges Rules" should be adopted forthwith. In this respect the HEC was requested to exercise its powers under section 10(d) of the HEC Ordinance, 2002 for its immediate adoption and implementation by all the universities imparting legal education.

The meeting recommended that the full-time teachers in law colleges and universities should be appointed. Besides, proper facilities and scholarships to law teachers should also be provided to improve their qualification in addition to non-practising allowance to full-time law teachers should also be allowed.