HEC devolution: Rabbani says problems being created deliberately

Senator dispels impression that HEC is being ‘targeted’ over the fake degrees issue.


Umer Nangiana April 14, 2011
HEC devolution: Rabbani says problems being created deliberately

ISLAMABAD:


Chairperson of the 18th Amendment Implementation Commission Senator Raza Rabbani said certain political actors are trying to create issues out of the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) devolution.


Refusing to take any names, he said that the coalition government is not targeting the HEC over the fake degrees cases. “Let’s not confuse the two issues,” he said, “the decision to devolve the education ministry and with it the HEC through a possible constitutional amendment was taken way before the fake degrees episode.” The commission’s job, he said, was to merely convey information as degrees are verified by concerned universities.

He was speaking at a joint press conference with members of the commission on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Senator Ishaq Dar, of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Rabbani said that the HEC is not much different from its predecessor, the Universities Grants Commission, which was funded by the federal government. Under the devolution plan, each province will be responsible for funding its own universities, he explained. However, he assured that the federal government will continue funding universities for a period of time decided under the finalised devolution plan before provinces take complete charge.

Dar said that no province can afford to deny funds to its universities thus there was no chance that university funding will be included in general funds.

But he was lost for a response when some reporters pointed out that certain members of his own party had expressed reservations over the issue.

Rabbani reiterated that the HEC’s devolution will not affect existing scholarships and denied that the federal government had stopped any funds.

According to the implementation commission’s members, a decision is yet to be taken whether the existing Higher Education Commission Ordinance 2002 will be amended or a new law is required.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2011.

COMMENTS (15)

dilber | 13 years ago | Reply this is what we said about punjab. the poorest punjab have become richest now how????? in federal departments they have jobs about 85%, they lose jobs if these departments r shifted to provinces. so would punjab want to lose their monopoly on federation????/ do u know why punjab and its bureaucracy opposes HEC devolution??? Facts: Punjab got 7,925 -KPK got 1,752 -Sindh got 891 -Balochistan got 865 -FATA 851 Azad Kashmir 213 -Islamabad likely punjab got 393 scholarships. that’s is main issue u all people see fairness Punjab HEC. small provinces getting lack of confidence that would be given their basic rights on their natural resources. If punjab make same mistakes again and again its like they PLAY WITH FIRE
Matiullah Shah | 13 years ago | Reply @mehwish: The provincial govt has not even capable to control schools and colleges. how it can control the higher education. Politician says that hec is given to provinces but if u look to planned division of HEC then nothing is given to HEC but the only purpose is to cut it in pieces, which definetly effect the higher education and research. let suppose it is given to the provinces. then its performance will be like school and colleges and it is totally hopless situation.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ