Editorial

HEC hiccups

There is obviously a need to reexamine our education strategy as a whole and determine how money can be best spent.

Editorial April 08, 2011

HEC hiccups

Academicians from across the country are joining hands to oppose the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) from the federal to the provincial level, as envisaged under the Eighteenth Amendment. The matter had been brewing for some time, but with 133 vice-chancellors opposing the move, 30 public-sector university heads joining in and the Sindh governor informing President Asif Ali Zardari of opposition to the move in the province, the president has promised to look into the matter himself. The decision will be eagerly watched.

Views from both sides of the fence, and from other directions, have been strongly expressed over the matter. It has been argued that the HEC should be done away with as it was set up — in 2002 — by a dictator. More rational comment focuses around the disproportionate budgets allocated to the HEC under Musharraf, with billions going into its account at the cost of primary and secondary education. The HEC and some university heads loudly protested the slashing of the budget to just over Rs15 billion last year against a demand for nearly double that amount. There is obviously a need to re-examine our education strategy as a whole and determine how money can be best spent, and where.

But the voice of academia must not be ignored. It seems obvious there is some logic behind their appeal, and a feeling that the HEC has indeed benefitted education at the higher level by opening up more universities, offering scholarships at the post-graduate level, highlighting the need to push up standards and cracking down on practices like plagiarism. It would be a pity if all this was lost in the process of devolution. The vice-chancellors and other stakeholders need to be heard. It is a good omen that the president himself has decided to look into the matter. We trust he will open up talks with all involved and reach a decision that can ensure gains made in the higher education sector are not lost, even as flaws in the working of the HEC are corrected to make it a more effective body.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (8)

Pan Mat | 13 years ago | Reply This is great news, another 15 billion rupees that can be spent on arms to counter mysterious foreign hand(s) and for digging strategic depths. It is easier to stick to your ghairat guns if you are an illetrate!

Aftab | 13 years ago | Reply The claim of the Government is self-contgradictory. On the one hand, they say that the functions of the HEC are being devolved to the provinces. On the other hand, they say, its present functions would be fragmented among Cabinet Division, Foreign Office and Inter-Provincial Coordiation Division. Raza Rabani also stated that a new body would be formed in place of HEC to be called Commission for Standards of Higher Education. When an institution is already working efficiently, why to demolish it and build a new one. Is this according to a punjabi film, "Mama ji ki adalat"? In fact, 'Democracy is the best revenge" and this democrazy wants to take its revenge from the HEC for declaring degrees of their legislators as fake. Moreover they want to grab the prime land in Islamabad on which offices of this body are located. Insha Allah, Supreme Court will take proper action. Doodh ka doodh aur pani ka pani ho jai ga.

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HAFIZ MUHAMMAD IRFAN CHAUDHRI | 13 years ago | Reply @Tariq: Nation deserves education but not discrimination as on one hand only higher echelon getting scholarships while the on the other hand poor masses suffering and unable to get education…why Pakistan is at number two in world ranking of out of school children???

HAFIZ MUHAMMAD IRFAN CHAUDHRI | 13 years ago | Reply Devolution process of ministries is underway according to the 18th Amendment and Implementation Commission is working on it in the right manner. Education ministry is also among the five ministries which have to be dissolved in this phase. All the functions including curriculum, planning, centers for excellence and implementation were on the concurrent list and have to be devolved to the provinces under 18th amendment. After 18th Amendment, the role of HEC has been completely changed and there would be no more monopoly of the HEC over financial matters. Different debates are underway on the devolution of HEC; some people are criticizing the devolution of HEC. It is very shocking that PML-N has also joined the chorus and singing against the devolution of HEC. On the other hand PML-N is the part of devolution process of ministries under 18th Amendment. Devolution process of HEC will not affect the international funding and the teachers who are working in different schools and colleges would also not be affected. Certain elements are creating confusion who didn’t want to see devolution of powers to provinces. When the government is not closing ongoing projects then why some people are creating hindrance? Educational institutions will be more autonomous by the devolution of Education Ministry. The ultimate beneficiaries are we the students, by the devolution provincial educational institution will become autonomous, will get more foreign financial aid and we will get more opportunities by this. Government should also take strict measures to free education out of the clutches of profiteers disguised as academicians.

Tariq | 13 years ago | Reply This nation does not deserve to be educated.So go ahead and distroy the only institute which is functioning well.

JAVAID MALIK | 13 years ago | Reply Many may not agree with the dictatorship imposed by Mr. Musharaf, but good deeds must be ecknowledged. HEC was one of the few miracles, this nation has achieved. The role of HEC in higher education is revolutionary. It opened the doors of such oppertunities to the commons that was considered accessible only for elite once. It gave hope to the future brian of this nation for better education and promised carriers. HEC was develped with a vision and it served its purpose well. The fair, transparent and efficient mechanism develped by HEC is witnessed by many. I will literally beg to the leadership and decision making authorities for the sake of better future of this nation, not to devolve HEC. May Allah bless our country. Pakistan Zindabad.

ali | 13 years ago | Reply demand was 22 billion.

ali | 13 years ago | Reply demand was not almost double of that. its a serious mistake in an editorial.

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