Strengthening performance: HEC may take colleges under its wings

Plan aims to improve their curriculum and bring them at par with universities.

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is planning to take charge of postgraduate colleges in order to “improve their curriculum and bring their standard at par with universities”.

“HEC has planned to bring all postgraduate colleges under the umbrella of HEC to improve their performance and strengthen their curriculum and criteria,” said HEC Executive Director Sohail Naqvi, while talking to The Express Tribune.

“We realize there is much room for improvement in postgraduate colleges across the country and the HEC will work to strengthen their capacity,” he added.

He said there is a significant standard difference in the curriculum and criteria between the postgraduate colleges and universities. To improve their standards, he said, the available facilities in the universities would also be provided to these colleges.

“Building their quality and standard is the key factor behind this proposed plan,” he maintained.

He said the HEC would collaborate with the respective provincial governments to work on the capacity building of the colleges. Gradually, degree colleges would also be roped in the programme.

Naqvi, however, said that the proposal is at a nascent stage.

This divide between the universities and colleges often deals a discriminatory hand to the undergraduate college graduates since they are not being entertained profusely in the job market, lagging behind in competition.

When contacted Principal Gordon College Professor Abdul Qayyum Bhatti said, “The HEC has not consulted us yet, but the idea is a good one and a step forward.”

Bhatti pinpointed other areas, including his own college facing a shortage of basic requirements including class rooms, laboratories and faculty. He said the HEC’s move would be instrumental in resolving the issues of the colleges.

Some private postgraduate colleges running in small buildings have either improved their standards or closed down their institutions altogether, he said.

Presently, Gordon College has departments of English, Information Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics and Mathematics. The colleges produced a number of renowned graduates, playing pivotal roles in various fields from politics to academia.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2011.