Beyond jurisdiction? Punjab govt bars VCs from attending HEC moot
VCs of public sector universities confirmed they received calls from the HED
VCs of various public universities in K-P demand that HEC be allowed to function as an independent federal body. PHOTOL FILE
LAHORE:
The Punjab government has barred the vice chancellors of public universities of the province from participating in a conference organised by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) in Lahore, The Express Tribune learnt on Wednesday.
The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED), in this regard, has sent a letter to all vice chancellors of public sector universities of the province. The letter read: “It is informed that the issue of determination of role of Federal Higher Education Commission, Provincial Higher Education Commissions/provincial governments pertaining to higher education in the aftermath of 18th Amendment in the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is under discussion in the Council of Common Interest (CCI), wherein the Punjab government has furnished its views/comments after approval from the Punjab chief minister.”
The letter further read: “Under no circumstance, any officer of a public sector university of Punjab or any official may make/furnish any statement on this issue, at any forum, or attend any official proceeding without seeking formal approval in writing from the chancellor/government.”
The HED initially informed of the provincial government’s decision by calling vice chancellors and telling them not to attend the meeting scheduled to be held today (Thursday). According to an official of the HED, the Punjab government was not happy with the commission’s (HEC’s) agenda of the conference and thus called vice chancellors.
Several of the vice chancellors of public sector universities in Punjab confirmed to The Express Tribune that they had received calls from the HED, telling them to refrain from attending the conference.
“I was told to not attend the meeting as it was being held to discuss the devolution plan of the higher education sector. The Punjab government’s stance on this is that it will be discussed by the Punjab government with the federal government and this meeting has no relevance on the subject,” said one of the vice chancellors, who asked not to be named.
Commenting on the development, HEC Media Director Aayesha Ikram said the meeting would go ahead. She said the HEC had invited participants (vice chancellors) from universities from all over Pakistan and would hold the meeting as per schedule. She pointed out that as of Monday, a total of 40 participants from Punjab confirmed their participation.
“We expected that more participants would attend (from Punjab), however, after today’s development, we are not sure how many will be able to take part in the conference,” she added.She said the meeting was to discuss matters of quality of education, quality of different programmes being offered at varsities, including MS and PhD programmes and security issues of universities.
Another official of the HEC, on the condition of anonymity, said no provincial government could bar vice chancellors of public universities as these were autonomous bodies directly linked to the HEC. “Public universities are directly funded by the HEC. Policy and other matters are also directly linked with the commission. How can a provincial government tell VCs not to communicate and interact with the HEC, this is not only unjustified but also beyond the authority of any provincial government,” the official said.
When contacted, HED Secretary Nabeel Awan said vice chancellors were barred from attending the meeting because the matter was pending with the Council of Common Interests (CCI) so they could not discus the subject at any official forum, other than the CCI. “It can be discussed in civil society and media, but not by people in their official capacities,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2018.
The Punjab government has barred the vice chancellors of public universities of the province from participating in a conference organised by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) in Lahore, The Express Tribune learnt on Wednesday.
The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED), in this regard, has sent a letter to all vice chancellors of public sector universities of the province. The letter read: “It is informed that the issue of determination of role of Federal Higher Education Commission, Provincial Higher Education Commissions/provincial governments pertaining to higher education in the aftermath of 18th Amendment in the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is under discussion in the Council of Common Interest (CCI), wherein the Punjab government has furnished its views/comments after approval from the Punjab chief minister.”
The letter further read: “Under no circumstance, any officer of a public sector university of Punjab or any official may make/furnish any statement on this issue, at any forum, or attend any official proceeding without seeking formal approval in writing from the chancellor/government.”
The HED initially informed of the provincial government’s decision by calling vice chancellors and telling them not to attend the meeting scheduled to be held today (Thursday). According to an official of the HED, the Punjab government was not happy with the commission’s (HEC’s) agenda of the conference and thus called vice chancellors.
Several of the vice chancellors of public sector universities in Punjab confirmed to The Express Tribune that they had received calls from the HED, telling them to refrain from attending the conference.
“I was told to not attend the meeting as it was being held to discuss the devolution plan of the higher education sector. The Punjab government’s stance on this is that it will be discussed by the Punjab government with the federal government and this meeting has no relevance on the subject,” said one of the vice chancellors, who asked not to be named.
Commenting on the development, HEC Media Director Aayesha Ikram said the meeting would go ahead. She said the HEC had invited participants (vice chancellors) from universities from all over Pakistan and would hold the meeting as per schedule. She pointed out that as of Monday, a total of 40 participants from Punjab confirmed their participation.
“We expected that more participants would attend (from Punjab), however, after today’s development, we are not sure how many will be able to take part in the conference,” she added.She said the meeting was to discuss matters of quality of education, quality of different programmes being offered at varsities, including MS and PhD programmes and security issues of universities.
Another official of the HEC, on the condition of anonymity, said no provincial government could bar vice chancellors of public universities as these were autonomous bodies directly linked to the HEC. “Public universities are directly funded by the HEC. Policy and other matters are also directly linked with the commission. How can a provincial government tell VCs not to communicate and interact with the HEC, this is not only unjustified but also beyond the authority of any provincial government,” the official said.
When contacted, HED Secretary Nabeel Awan said vice chancellors were barred from attending the meeting because the matter was pending with the Council of Common Interests (CCI) so they could not discus the subject at any official forum, other than the CCI. “It can be discussed in civil society and media, but not by people in their official capacities,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2018.