ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the provincial governments have agreed to make collaborative efforts to enhance the quality of higher education in the country.

During a meeting of the steering committee of provincial secretaries at the HEC here, there was broad consensus that the true spirit of the 18th amendment and uniform standards should be observed in the higher education sector.

In consultation with the provincial governments, a paper on funding a council at the provincial level would be prepared by HEC, so that effective financial management of the sector may be introduced in the provinces.

In the 18th amendment, it was decided that the provincial governments would have the administrative control of universities while financial control would remain with the HEC till announcement of the next NFC award by 2014.

A participant of the meeting requesting not to be identified said as two different bodies had been exercising financial and administrative powers, the problems were increasing.

“During the meeting, it was decided that the provincial governments will coordinate with HEC while taking decisions about hiring of staff and development projects to maintain balance between facilities and the number of students/faculty members,” he said He said all the decisions should be made with consensus so that the quality of education does not suffer.

The meeting, which was presided over by Executive Director Higher Education Commission (HEC) Prof Dr Sohail Naqvi, was attended by secretary higher education Punjab Dr Ijaz Munir; Farah Hameed of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sher Khan Bazai of Balochistan; additional secretary education Sindh, Aftab Inayat, and additional secretary Azad Kashmir Mohammad Mumtaz Khawaja.