PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the authorities of higher education department to take necessary measures for launching four-year Bachelor of Studies (BS) programme in all colleges of the province and start second shift in government colleges on need basis.

He also directed the department to introduce E-transfer policy to ensure transparency in posting and transfer of teachers, according to a statement issued here on Tuesday.

The chief minister issued these directives while chairing a progress review meeting of higher education, archives and libraries department.

Mahmood Khan also issues directions for start of second shift on need basis

Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Higher Education Kamran Bangash, Higher Education Secretary Daud Khan, Finance Secretary Atifur Rehman, Communication and Works Secretary Ijaz Ansari and other senior officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was told that during the last two years, 19 new colleges had been established in different districts of the province while work on establishment of 51 more colleges was in progress.

It was informed that about 1,900 new posts of lecturers were approved recently and Rs2545.825 million was approved to provide missing facilities to 177 colleges.

The chief minister directed the quarters concerned to make the newly established colleges functional without any delay. Stressing the need for restructuring of the department, he directed the authorities concerned to submit proposals to that effect.

He also ordered for early completion of restructuring of Education Testing and Evaluation Authority. The forum was told that a total of 89 development projects of higher education department were reflected in the current Annual Development Programme and 44 would be completed during the current financial year.

The meeting was told that BS blocks were completed in 12 different colleges while Rs1154 million was released for development of science laboratories, provision of furniture, machineries and other facilities to the colleges.

It was said that BS commerce programme was extended to all commerce colleges of the province whereas BS programme in other subjects was extended to 113 colleges so far.

Bailout packages have been provided to universities including Rs250 million to University of Peshawar, Rs100 million to Agricultural University Peshawar, Rs138 million to Abdul Wali Khan University, Rs100 million to Gomal University and Rs100 million to Islamia College.

Furniture and books worth Rs32 million have been purchased for various libraries and second shift has been launched in the public libraries.

The meeting was informed that 4,233 teachers and 160 principals, DDOs and BS coordinators were trained so far by Higher Education Academy for Research and Training.

It was told that a sub-committee was formed to introduce E-commerce policy in management science colleges of the province.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2020