POLITICAL interference in justice and education sectors is not new in Pakistan. Interference in the education sector, especially in universities, is gradually increasing and badly damaging the autonomy of universities.

If you examine university rankings by the Higher Education Commission, you will find private sector universities on top. The main reason for poor performance by public universities is interference by politicians who have their own vested interests, including corruption, besides pleasing their voters instead of promoting education.

A majority of our politicians are less educated, but are powerful enough to influence policy about the standard of education.

These political decisions marginalise the role and contribution of professionals and impact negatively on policy formulation and implementation.

Although the HEC has formulated policies to ensure the autonomy of universities, including the selection and appointment of vice-chancellors, its rules are hardly followed and the autonomy of the HEC itself is under a question mark.

The HEC’s decentralisation after the 18th Amendment is under process, as the prime minister has formulated a task force for that purpose. Once the HEC comes under provinces’ control, political interference will increase.

If our politicians want to see development, growth and better output of these higher education institutes, they should be involved only in the legislation to ensure the autonomy of these institutes.

Dr Feroze Ali

Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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