I FAIL to appreciate the latest decision of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of cancelling the two-year degree programmes offered by various universities across the country. The justification provided by the HEC for putting an end to the BA/BSc programmes is to comply with the international four-year programmes. Unfortunately, our country follows the Western model of education which only supports the elite. The students from low-income families and working class cannot manage to pay the exorbitant fee charged by many institutions. And then there are those belonging to unemployed families.

Graduates from popular institutions are likely to get decent jobs due to their strong credentials, but what about the rest? Those who cannot pursue their studies because of their financial misery? Those who secured low grades in intermediate and yet wanted to study further? Those who are repeaters? And those who are halfway through their programmes? Should they stop completing these programmes?

Restoring the conventional two-year degree programmes is important for the careers and livelihood of thousands and thousands of such students. They are their only lifeline to continue their education and to ultimately try their luck in search of career aspirations. The conventional two-year programme was the source of upward mobility for students belonging to the lower stratum of society. The abrupt decision of the HEC has only served to ostracise the marginalised segments that are already living on the edge. This move tries to ghettoise the educational edifice of the country because the thousands of students enrolled in these programmes since 2019 will land nowhere.

This decision of HEC officials, who are ignorant of the ground reality, has dashed the dreams of such aspirants. The HEC needs to revisit its policy in this regard; at least for those who are halfway through their degree programmes.

Waleed Rasheed
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2021