Post-devolution woes: VCs oppose provincial higher education depts

ISLAMABAD:

Majority of the university heads at a consultative workshop opposed the establishment of provincial higher education commissions fearing ‘disastrous’ effects on the gains the country’s higher education sector has witnessed since 2002.

The vice-chancellors (VCs) from different universities from across the country gathered at a local hotel on Tuesday to discuss the establishment of higher education departments in the provinces, especially in Punjab and Sindh.

The proposal has generated a new debate in the country about the status of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which was organised by the commission.

Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences VC Mohammad Bazai opined that had the ordinance passed by Punjab been replicated by Balochistan there would have been a lot of hue and cry.

“People would say it is an effort to create a new step towards separation from the federation,” he commented.

The defunct University Grants Commission head U A Essani expressed his astonishment at things being done in hurry. He said Sindh has appointed director colleges to head universities evaluation committee.

National University of Sciences and Technology Rector Muhammad Asghar said devolution means “universities are writing their obituaries by themselves.”

Punjab Higher Education Department Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal was of the view that the establishment of the provincial body in his province is not as done by Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2014.