Rudderless: Top educational bodies without chiefs

PM has yet to approve names of HEC, NAVTTC, NCHD heads.

ISLAMABAD:

In a country where education is accorded little priority, delays in the appointment of heads of educational bodies at the local and international level is resulting in delayed decisions and projects.

Although the government does not seem to be pushed to appoint heads of educational institutions or international representatives, the absence of decision makers, in particular, needs to be urgently addressed.

The annual meeting of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in September was attended by Pakistan’s ambassador to France because a representative had not been appointed. “It was a real embarrassment as Pakistan is a member of the General Council and there wasn’t anybody to represent us,” said a senior official at the Ministry of Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education.

The post has been vacant since May when the interim setup was replaced by the new government and Shahnaz Wazir Ali left. Officials at the ministry said four names had been sent to the prime minister for approval. Two of them are well known, but don’t have the right credentials- former education minister Zubeda Jalal and Senator Tariq Azeem.

The chief of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has yet to be appointed since Javaid Leghari’s four-year contract expired on August 27. It is surprising that the government is still undecided over this most sought-after seat in higher education which is allocated a budget of Rs59 billion. Weeks ago the ministry proposed the names of three vice chancellors for acting chief of HEC, but one has yet to be approved by the PM.

“As I’m the second in command after the HEC chairperson, I’ve to look after many things in the absence of a chief,” said HEC Executive Director (ED) Dr Mukhtar Ahmed. “There are policy issues and HEC commission meetings can only be called by the chairperson so we’re looking forward to the appointment of a new chief.”

The same is the case with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) which is functioning without a chairperson and ED. The name first sent by the ministry to the PM was rejected and more names were sought for the post of chairperson. This time three names from the PM House are also pending for approval for the two posts.

The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) is also bumbling along without a chief since former chairperson Tariq Nawaz left in May. “Approval from top bosses is necessary for projects and to move files forward. The organisation is internationally connected and we require swift planning and action, which is not the case at the moment,” said an official at the NCHD.



According to a senior official at the education ministry, they often receive calls from the institutions’ officers for updates on appointments. “The ball is in the PM’s court. We have to wait for him to finalise the names,” he told The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, the tenure of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education chief Shaheen Khan expired on September 19, but she will continue till a new chairperson is appointed. The ministry will interview 17 persons who applied for the post.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2013.