PESHAWAR, May 8: The universities must be made the focal points of all reforms, through adequate autonomy and empowerment, said Dr Shams Qasim Lakha in a meeting of the Steering Committee on Higher Education held here on Wednesday.

Dr Lakha, chairman of the committee, while presenting the recommendations of the National Task Force, said the time had come when everyone became open in his thoughts when dealing with the important issue of education. He said that primary education could not be separated from higher education.

The meeting, presided over by Dr Lakha, was attended by vice-chancellors, registrars and other faculty members of all the universities of the province.

Elaborating the points of reforms, Dr Lakha said there was skepticism whether the government will implement the reforms in educational institutions. Nothing happened in the past 54 years to improve the academic standards despite the fact that a number of good ideas had emerged, he said.

Examining the practice prevailing in the universities, the steering committee chairman said that both governance and management had been politicised, which rendered the university senates ineffective.

Presenting his recommendations, Dr Lakha said that governance and management in universities should be separated and restructured.

“There should be an Independent Governing Body (IGB) of up to 15 members, which should be appointed by the chancellor based on the recommendations put forward by a nominating committee representing society, educators, government and professionals. On the management side, the governing body has to recommend the appointment of the vice-chancellor who should be the chief executive. The vice-chancellor was to head the management side of the university affairs which include both academics and administration”, said Dr Lakha.

“The participation of the faculty members should be increased in the decision-making process,” he remarked.