HUMAN development works as the backbone of a country. The world respects visionary development economist Dr Mahbub ul Haq, of Pakistan, who theorised the idea of ‘human development’. It should actually be the guiding principle of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Human development is not possible without quality education, which, in turn, is not possible without granting autonomy to educational institutions.

A developed human capital, which is the product of an autonomous educational system, means that one has developed critical, creative, rational and scientific outlook. Instead of fortifying the autonomy of educational institutions, the government is thinking otherwise.

Over the centuries, the West learnt that political and religious interventions into education mean undermining human development. Top class world universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton etc., have full autonomy.

Noam Chomsky, an American philosopher, in his online talk at a private Pakistani university, recently remarked that the future of Pakistan depends upon the quality of education.

The government, which talked in detail about human development in its election campaign, must encourage autonomy in the education sector for the better future of Pakistan.

Saad Malook
Lahore

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2021