No decision on HEC devolution yet again

The Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee (IPCC) could not reach a decision in its meeting on Thursday regarding the issue of the devolution of the Higher Education Commission, which has been dragging on for seven years.

The delay in the finalisation of the matter is affecting the higher education sector of the country as several provincial universities are not following HEC guidelines in certain matters.

According to an official who attended the IPCC meeting, which was chaired by federal minister Riaz Hussein Pirzada, a representative of the Sindh government opposed a central HEC and demanded that provincial HECs should be given more powers and funding and that the role of the HEC in the centre should be curtailed.

However, the sources said there was a mix of opinions from the other participants and that the IPC minister had then directed Federal Education Minister Balighur Rehman to hold discussions with stakeholders, the IPCC and the Council of Common Interest.

The performance of Pakistani universities is also not up to the mark compared to international universities and in the latest ranking by Times Higher Education, the number of Pakistani universities in the top 1,000 universities across the world dropped from seven to four. Now, only QAU, Nust, the University of Faisalabad and Comsats are in the top 1,000. The Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, University of Lahore and the University of Karachi were also on the list before.

“The ranking of universities is an ongoing process. Our universities are making progress but we are also facing several challenges due to provincial HECs,” said HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed.

He said universities start talking about curtailing the role of the HEC when the commission takes any strict action.

“People are misinterpreting the issue of the HEC’s devolution. It is in the greater interests of the country that the HEC takes on a leading role, in light of the 18th Amendment,” he said, adding that the matter should be resolved in accordance with the Constitution and law. The HEC chairman also attended the IPCC meeting but declined to speak on the occasion.

The law ministry and the federal government support the HEC taking on a leading role and a few years ago, the law ministry had said the formation of provincial HECs in Punjab and Sindh was against the Constitution. However, provinces say they have every right to form their HECs.

Orientation week starts at Nust

The National University of Sciences and Technology (Nust) started off its orientation week at its main campus on Thursday in order to formally welcome its new undergraduate students.

The new students were assembled in the main auditorium where the respective principals addressed them. They were also shown videos of campus facilities and recordings of students before them, according to a press release.

It says that during the next few days, the freshmen will be taken to various Nust schools, research centres and allied facilities including hostels and the gymnasium.

The special feature of this year’s orientation week is the organization of social events including a talent hunt, an open mic show and a sports festival.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2017