National testing: Varsity academics reject NTC

Say HEC’s move to set up board violates body’s law

ISLAMABAD: A body of academics Sunday rejected a move by the higher education commission to set up a central council to conduct entrance tests for universities.

Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) Islamabad-chapter President Asif Ali, in a statement on Sunday termed the creation of the National Testing Council (NTC) a violation of the HEC Act and respective universities acts.

Ali said that the HEC Ordinance 2002, clearly states that the HEC is proscribed from establishing a body such as this by its own as well as conduct tests itself.

The custodian of the actual power of the HEC lies with its board which is comprised of 17 members which deliberated over the issue and unanimously rejected the idea of administration’s involvement in conducting tests by declaring the act to be a conflict of interest, Ali said.

Instead of implementing the decision of the Board, the HEC is attempting to conduct the tests via the testing council.

The notification, the  FAPUASA president said, was another deliberate violation of the Lahore High Court (LHC) judgment on the testing issue.

Instead of complying with the judgment and without amending the HEC Ordinance through proper legislation the administration has not only conducted tests but has also announced a new testing body.

The FAPUASA added that a task force on higher education had already rejected the idea of the federal government for establishment of National Education Testing Service (NETS).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2017.