Hampering education: HEC devolution opposed by universities

VC for University of Agriculture says the decision will affect the quality of education at universities.

FAISALABAD: Vice-chancellor (VC) of the University of Agriculture Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan opposed the federal government’s move to devolve the Higher Education Commission (HEC), while stating that the decision will affect the quality of education at universities across the country. While briefing a delegation of the Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad, on Friday, the VC said that by shifting HEC’s responsibly to the provinces monitoring of the higher education system in line with the criteria set at international level, will also suffer. He expressed the fear that the abolishment of the monitoring system will make students prefer private universities, while adding that the government budget for education was diminishing, and that the trend must be curtailed.  While shedding light on some of the facts, he said a total of 130 universities were functioning in the country out of which six universities were giving agriculture related education, with the University of Agriculture topping the rankings in this category.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd,  2011.