It is important that the provincial educational commissions accept the authority of the federal HEC as a watchdog
LAHORE: Recently, the vice chancellors of public-sector universities in Punjab boycotted a meeting convened by the federal Higher Education Commission (HEC) as the provincial government ordered them not to attend it. The order from the provincial authorities was sent forward on account of the argument that a federal education commission is not needed when provinces have their own education commissions formulating policies for them, which is also important for seeking full autonomy in the education sector by the provinces in the wake of the 18th constitutional amendment.
Regardless of the provincial devolution, it is important that the provincial educational commissions accept the authority of the federal HEC as a watchdog. That would ensure that well-coordinated policies are followed by all provincial commissions, and as the federal commission grants funding to public-sector universities, accepting its role as a parent body is a rational measure.
Haider Raza
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2018.
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