ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: Ministry of Education is planning to grant autonomy and degree awarding status to reputed colleges in the country, official sources told Dawn here on Sunday.

The sources said this step was being taken as part of the ongoing education sector reforms. They were optimistic that this step would revolutionize the quality of higher education in the country.

Besides launching of local M.Phil and Ph.D programmes, they said, split Ph.D programmes in collaboration with reputed foreign universities were also being planned.

They said the ministry wanted to produce about 100 scholars annually under this arrangement. Furthermore, to improve the quality of research, officials said, plans were afoot to strengthen laboratory and library facilities in the country.

As an incentive for the teachers of degree awarding institutions and to attract talented and qualified teachers, they disclosed, the ministry was planning to offer them remuneration at higher rates. All these measures, they maintained, would assist in achieving the target of expanding access to higher education in the country to at least five per cent of population in the age group of 17-23 years by 2010.

About other reforms planned for the higher education sector, the official sources said merit would be the only criterion for admission to the institutions offering higher education. Entrance tests, they said, would be made mandatory for all admissions to such institutions. All quota and reserved seats, they said, were being eliminated.

According to the sources, degree colleges will have an option to get affiliated with any recognized university or degree awarding institution for examination and award of degrees. In order to eliminate violence, all political activities on the campus would be banned, they added.

They said reforms were also being introduced in the secondary education.

The participation rate, they said, would be increased from 31 per cent to 48 per cent by 2002-03.

Curriculum for secondary and higher secondary was being revised and recent developments in information technology, such as software development, were being made part of the curricula, they added.

The sources said base for technical and vocational education was being broadened through introduction of a stream of matric (technical) on pilot basis and establishment of vocational high schools. One model secondary school at each district level was planned to be set up and computers would be introduced in secondary schools in a phased manner.

— Zahra Syed