Universities in a fix over meeting HEC deadline
Two-year BA, MA programmes to be abolished by 2020
PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The deadline set by the Higher Education Commission to abolish two-year bachelors and masters programmes after the academic years 2018 and 2020, respectively, has put universities in a difficult situation as they have yet to develop a mechanism and infrastructure in affiliated colleges.
The HEC, through an official letter dated March 15, informed all degree-awarding institutions in the country that “there shall be no admissions in conventional BA/BSc after the academic year 2018 and in MA/MSc after 2020”.
The letter added that the main disadvantage of using different titles for bachelor level degrees is creating confusion for employers, national, international organisations and community as well.
The HEC aims to replace the existing system with the BS and two-year MS programmes that would be equivalent to 16 and 18 years of education, respectively.
HEC defends move to end 2-year BA
According to the HEC, the decision to phase out the two-year BA and MA programmes was taken in 2004-05.
In 2007, an associate degree was added to facilitate the transition while in 2014, a committee was constituted, which suggested issuing a deadline for the discontinuation of the programme. Finally in 2015, a commission approved the move.
The decision has landed the universities that have given affiliations to over 3,500 colleges in the country in trouble as the HEC has been talking about the issue since long and kept informing universities to prepare for the abolishment of the programmes but, according to HEC Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, “to no avail”.
A committee of the HEC in 2007 proposed a bridging semester as foundation to cover the academic deficiency of a student who would be entering into the 5th semester of the BS programme.
Punjab to review HEC decision to end BA, MA programmes
The serious concern when it comes to these degree-granting institutes is the quality of education and lack of checks. The issue of quality has been a challenge in universities but the situation at (affiliated) colleges has been abysmal with lack of infrastructure, missing facilities -- including laboratories, permanent teaching staff, etc.
According to the HEC record, currently around 60 universities in the public sector have granted affiliations to 3,528 colleges across the country. While only in Punjab, there are 717 colleges in the public sector while the number is over 1,400 in the private sector.
Now the deadline fixed for these programmes has the Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of these universities and colleges as to how they would continue the four years BS and two years MS programmes when they are already facing severe shortage of resources and infrastructure.
The frustration of provinces and universities could be gauged from the fact that right after the announcement, Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani ordered the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) to review the decision of the HEC.
Pressed for time: ‘Govt cannot phase out degree programmes on HEC’s time frame’
On Thursday after a meeting with all education authorities and stakeholders, Gillani announced that they could not replace the existing system within a year.
PHEC chairperson Dr Nizamuddin told The Express Tribune that the decision was impossible to implement as it was taken in haste by the HEC. “They have taken the decision in isolation and no representation was there from the provinces,” he said, refuting the claim of the HEC chairperson that representatives of every province were there.
He said they did not have sufficient infrastructure at the college level including other requirements then how it was possible to expect results of international standards from them.
“We experienced four-year programme in Punjab and it failed because of a poor setup, so I don’t understand why the HEC went ahead with such a decision without talking to college principals, deans, teachers association and other stakeholders,” he added.
Students protest as Global Institute fails to issue degrees
Senior researcher and former Lahore University of Management Sciences Vice Chancellor Adil Najam tweeted after the HEC letter that, “the two-year BA no longer works. But if you provide bad quality education for 4 years instead of two, please expect results at least twice as bad”, adding that 4-year BA is a good idea but it will be as useless as a 2-year BA.
The HEC chairperson stated that universities had already transformed their programmes as per the requirement, except affiliated colleges of private and public sectors.
“Everybody knows about the move and the decision is taken by the commission with representations of all provinces,” he said.
He said he could take the issue again to the commission but it was pointless to keep the date extending when the colleges were not being improved in areas where they should.
HEC shuts down 34 postgraduate programmes
“They should work out curriculum, do homework about future goals and provide a proper system to get in sync with international standards,” he concluded.
Commenting on the issue, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Archives and Library Additional Secretary Khalid Khan welcomed the decision, saying it was taken with the consent of provincial governments and it was the need of the hour.
"Our pilot project about the BS programme in several colleges worked as per our expectations so it is a welcoming move."
None of the officials of Sindh were willing to comment on the issue while an official of the Karachi University said: “Indeed the move has landed the university in a position where they have to take tough decisions about affiliated colleges.”
The deadline set by the Higher Education Commission to abolish two-year bachelors and masters programmes after the academic years 2018 and 2020, respectively, has put universities in a difficult situation as they have yet to develop a mechanism and infrastructure in affiliated colleges.
The HEC, through an official letter dated March 15, informed all degree-awarding institutions in the country that “there shall be no admissions in conventional BA/BSc after the academic year 2018 and in MA/MSc after 2020”.
The letter added that the main disadvantage of using different titles for bachelor level degrees is creating confusion for employers, national, international organisations and community as well.
The HEC aims to replace the existing system with the BS and two-year MS programmes that would be equivalent to 16 and 18 years of education, respectively.
HEC defends move to end 2-year BA
According to the HEC, the decision to phase out the two-year BA and MA programmes was taken in 2004-05.
In 2007, an associate degree was added to facilitate the transition while in 2014, a committee was constituted, which suggested issuing a deadline for the discontinuation of the programme. Finally in 2015, a commission approved the move.
The decision has landed the universities that have given affiliations to over 3,500 colleges in the country in trouble as the HEC has been talking about the issue since long and kept informing universities to prepare for the abolishment of the programmes but, according to HEC Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, “to no avail”.
A committee of the HEC in 2007 proposed a bridging semester as foundation to cover the academic deficiency of a student who would be entering into the 5th semester of the BS programme.
Punjab to review HEC decision to end BA, MA programmes
The serious concern when it comes to these degree-granting institutes is the quality of education and lack of checks. The issue of quality has been a challenge in universities but the situation at (affiliated) colleges has been abysmal with lack of infrastructure, missing facilities -- including laboratories, permanent teaching staff, etc.
According to the HEC record, currently around 60 universities in the public sector have granted affiliations to 3,528 colleges across the country. While only in Punjab, there are 717 colleges in the public sector while the number is over 1,400 in the private sector.
Now the deadline fixed for these programmes has the Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of these universities and colleges as to how they would continue the four years BS and two years MS programmes when they are already facing severe shortage of resources and infrastructure.
The frustration of provinces and universities could be gauged from the fact that right after the announcement, Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani ordered the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) to review the decision of the HEC.
Pressed for time: ‘Govt cannot phase out degree programmes on HEC’s time frame’
On Thursday after a meeting with all education authorities and stakeholders, Gillani announced that they could not replace the existing system within a year.
PHEC chairperson Dr Nizamuddin told The Express Tribune that the decision was impossible to implement as it was taken in haste by the HEC. “They have taken the decision in isolation and no representation was there from the provinces,” he said, refuting the claim of the HEC chairperson that representatives of every province were there.
He said they did not have sufficient infrastructure at the college level including other requirements then how it was possible to expect results of international standards from them.
“We experienced four-year programme in Punjab and it failed because of a poor setup, so I don’t understand why the HEC went ahead with such a decision without talking to college principals, deans, teachers association and other stakeholders,” he added.
Students protest as Global Institute fails to issue degrees
Senior researcher and former Lahore University of Management Sciences Vice Chancellor Adil Najam tweeted after the HEC letter that, “the two-year BA no longer works. But if you provide bad quality education for 4 years instead of two, please expect results at least twice as bad”, adding that 4-year BA is a good idea but it will be as useless as a 2-year BA.
The HEC chairperson stated that universities had already transformed their programmes as per the requirement, except affiliated colleges of private and public sectors.
“Everybody knows about the move and the decision is taken by the commission with representations of all provinces,” he said.
He said he could take the issue again to the commission but it was pointless to keep the date extending when the colleges were not being improved in areas where they should.
HEC shuts down 34 postgraduate programmes
“They should work out curriculum, do homework about future goals and provide a proper system to get in sync with international standards,” he concluded.
Commenting on the issue, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Archives and Library Additional Secretary Khalid Khan welcomed the decision, saying it was taken with the consent of provincial governments and it was the need of the hour.
"Our pilot project about the BS programme in several colleges worked as per our expectations so it is a welcoming move."
None of the officials of Sindh were willing to comment on the issue while an official of the Karachi University said: “Indeed the move has landed the university in a position where they have to take tough decisions about affiliated colleges.”