ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: The federal cabinet is likely to take final decision on the controversial Model University Ordinance, 2002 in its meeting today.

According to reliable sources, Minister of Education, Science and Technology Prof Attaur Rehman in the last meeting briefed the cabinet on the outcome of his discussions with the vice chancellors of the public sector universities on the proposed law.

They said the minister intimated that Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool had held a meeting with the vice chancellors during which a number of changes were made in the Ordinance to dispel the fears ofthe teachers and the students.

The sources said that still the government was facing a stiff resistance from the Federation of Professors Association and a section of the students in this regard.

It was also told that the cabinet recommended that the Ordinance should not be left to the next government for promulgation in view of stiff opposition of certain quarters. Therefore, the cabinet is likely to take a final decision on the issue in its meeting today, which may be its last meeting, if the military regime transfers power to the civil government as per schedule.

It may be added here that the teaching staff associations across the country have opposed the recommendations of the Steering Committee on Higher Education whereby public sector universities would be run by independent governing boards.

Under the new setup in marked contrast to the existing administrative arrangements, public sector universities will be governed as independent institutions, associated with but not controlled by ministry departments or any other funding source.

The teachers oppose engaging people from the private sector to govern the public sector universities, as education is a sensitive domain and only people with relevant experience can manage it.

Contesting the decision of the government to grant financial and administrative autonomy to the public sector universities to this date, both teachers and students are holding countrywide protest demonstrations.

The issue of recurring grants to the provinces also came under discussion. It was desired that the higher education commission should provide recurring grants to these universities.