Prof. Dr Attaur Rehman reminds PML-N to fulfill its promise to prioritise higher education. PHOTO: CREATIVE COMMONS
KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government should fulfill its promise about paying extra attention to the higher education sector, stressed the former Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairperson, Prof. Dr Attaur Rehman, in an interview with The Express Tribune on Sunday.
“Even after the passage of three months, the government has failed to appoint a permanent head for the country’s only institution that regulates higher education,” lamented Dr Rehman. He was of the opinion that a permanent and regular chairperson of the commission must be made through a “competitive, open and merit-based mechanism” as soon as possible.
The HEC is functioning without a chairperson since August 26, 2013, after the four-year term of Dr Javaid Laghari expired. In the interim, the government had appointed Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani as the acting chairperson of the commission on November 9. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan had, however, directed the government on November 27 to appoint a regular chairperson of the commission within 15 days, stating that no acting appointment can be made on a regular post.
While suggesting a mechanism, Dr Rehman said that a five-member search committee, comprising top scholars of the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, must be formed to suggest three names that would be shortlisted through a ‘competitive process’ to the prime minister - the controlling authority of the HEC - for the appointment of new chairperson. “Unnecessary delays in the appointment of a permanent head are badly affecting the higher education sector. Only a permanent head can take the key decisions on the functioning of national universities and institutions.”
The HEC Ordinance does not define any specific educational qualifications for the chairperson’s appointment. Dr Rehman, however, stressed that the person, if not necessarily a PhD degree holder, must be of international eminence and proven ability, having made significant contributions towards higher education. “The appointment should not be made on political grounds,” he added.
A handicapped commission
To promote higher education and research, the commission formerly had the authority to approve development projects worth a maximum of Rs60 million, said Dr Rehman. “The Pakistan Peoples Party government had, however, withdrawn the HEC’s sanctioning powers, even though the 18th Amendment through the 4th Schedule [Article 70 (4) Federal Legislative List Part-II] fully supports the powers and functions of the HEC,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2013.
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Seems like no one wants to head HEC and the ones who want to are not trusted.
The two previous chairs, Ata ur Rahman and Javed Laghari would love to get the job and its perks back again. But no one trusts them.
And the people the government has been asking like Shams Kassim Lakha and Adil Najam keep saying no. They are good people and I have more respect for them now they say no. Because this job will rake whoever takes it through the mud.