Varsities focus on quantity, not quality
HEC chairman tells Senate panel that commission is emphasising on research over practical issues
HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri. PHOTO COURTESY: HEC FACEBOOK PAGE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has produced at least 12,000 PhD scholars including 6,000 women in the past 10 years, Higher Education Commission (HEC) chief told Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Vocational Training.
Senator Usmana Khan Kakar had raised question in Senate’s session asking statistics of students going for PhD.
HEC Chairman Tariq Banuri told the Senate panel that in the past, universities only focused on awarding degrees rather than improving educational standard, however things were changing now.
The chairman said research in the country was not in line with problems prevailing in society however HEC was trying to bridge this gap. He added that practical application of research was being emphasised.
Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Vocational Training Chairperson Rahila Magsi chaired the meeting held at the Parliament House on Thursday. It was attended by Senators Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Najma Hameed, Engineer Rukhsana Zuberi, Bahramand Khan Tangi, Nauman Wazir Khattak, Prof Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Usman Khan Kakar, Nazhat Sadiq, Mohammad Ali Khan Saif, Federal Education and Vocational Training Secretary, and officials from Law and Justice Ministry.
HEC gives awards to 52 researchers
Senator Muhammad Ali Saif stressed on encouraging scholars to acquire PhD with result-oriented research trend in every field and its use to generate new and unique ideas.
The committee was informed that 75,000 students including 20 per cent women were currently enrolled in engineering universities across the country. The committee stressed to shift female students’ focus towards field of engineering since their school time.
HEC chief apprised the committee that every university had to bear Rs150,000 for each student annually while funds earmarked in this regard were only Rs50,000 which were insufficient.
He also briefed about regularisation of teachers of National Commission for Human Development and told the Senate panel that some 16,000 teachers in 137 districts were getting honorary salaries for the last two years.
The officials added that teachers would be regularised after an entry test. The committee directed to provide them equivalent facilities as teachers after recruitment.
The committee discussed public complaints regarding National Technology Council’s adjourned Act during which it was told that HEC was preparing a draft after consultation from both parties. The draft would be sent to the educational ministry within a week while its detailed report would be presented before the committee in next meeting, officials told.
The committee recommended giving legal and legitimate rights to complainant after detailed discussion on question raised by Senator Behramand Khan Tangi on PhD allowances and study leave for Professor Dr Qayyum Shah from University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar.
Regarding public complaints on discrimination in examinations Pakistan Institute of Charted Accountants (PICA), the committee was told that it was an autonomous institution and not affiliated with HEC. However, the committee summoned PICA officials in next meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2019.
Pakistan has produced at least 12,000 PhD scholars including 6,000 women in the past 10 years, Higher Education Commission (HEC) chief told Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Vocational Training.
Senator Usmana Khan Kakar had raised question in Senate’s session asking statistics of students going for PhD.
HEC Chairman Tariq Banuri told the Senate panel that in the past, universities only focused on awarding degrees rather than improving educational standard, however things were changing now.
The chairman said research in the country was not in line with problems prevailing in society however HEC was trying to bridge this gap. He added that practical application of research was being emphasised.
Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Vocational Training Chairperson Rahila Magsi chaired the meeting held at the Parliament House on Thursday. It was attended by Senators Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Najma Hameed, Engineer Rukhsana Zuberi, Bahramand Khan Tangi, Nauman Wazir Khattak, Prof Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Usman Khan Kakar, Nazhat Sadiq, Mohammad Ali Khan Saif, Federal Education and Vocational Training Secretary, and officials from Law and Justice Ministry.
HEC gives awards to 52 researchers
Senator Muhammad Ali Saif stressed on encouraging scholars to acquire PhD with result-oriented research trend in every field and its use to generate new and unique ideas.
The committee was informed that 75,000 students including 20 per cent women were currently enrolled in engineering universities across the country. The committee stressed to shift female students’ focus towards field of engineering since their school time.
HEC chief apprised the committee that every university had to bear Rs150,000 for each student annually while funds earmarked in this regard were only Rs50,000 which were insufficient.
He also briefed about regularisation of teachers of National Commission for Human Development and told the Senate panel that some 16,000 teachers in 137 districts were getting honorary salaries for the last two years.
The officials added that teachers would be regularised after an entry test. The committee directed to provide them equivalent facilities as teachers after recruitment.
The committee discussed public complaints regarding National Technology Council’s adjourned Act during which it was told that HEC was preparing a draft after consultation from both parties. The draft would be sent to the educational ministry within a week while its detailed report would be presented before the committee in next meeting, officials told.
The committee recommended giving legal and legitimate rights to complainant after detailed discussion on question raised by Senator Behramand Khan Tangi on PhD allowances and study leave for Professor Dr Qayyum Shah from University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar.
Regarding public complaints on discrimination in examinations Pakistan Institute of Charted Accountants (PICA), the committee was told that it was an autonomous institution and not affiliated with HEC. However, the committee summoned PICA officials in next meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2019.