Govt to enhance money for higher education

President asks varsities to focus on improving the quality of education, research

ISLAMABAD: After facing many rebukes from stakeholders, particularly public sector universities, the government it seems has realized its error of abruptly slashing funds for the higher education sector and has suggested that it may rectify this self-created crisis by enhancing funds for the sector, including for development, in the next budget.

This was suggested by President Dr Arif Alvi and Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Wednesday as they addressed the inaugural ceremony of the International Conference on Quality Assurance System, Standards and Policies: Issues and Challenges in Islamabad.

The conference was organised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in collaboration with the United States Education Foundation Programme (USEFP).

President Dr Alvi exhorted universities to improve themselves.

“Universities must focus on enhancing the quality of education and research [offered] in addition to increasing enrolment and publications,” Dr Alvi said as he assured varsities that more monies will become available gradually.

“As the economy improves, the funding situation for higher education will improve,” he promised.

He added that while higher education must focus on developing the intellect of students, it should also try to ensure that it remains relevant to the needs of society.

The president emphasised universities must improve their syllabuses, and make them compatible with the social and psychological needs of the students.

Acknowledging the remarkable development of available infrastructure in the education sector in recent years, Dr Alvi remarked that most parents demand an improvement in the quality of education for their children to go with the improved infrastructure.

However, he acknowledged that improving quality w as a tedious process requiring continuous learning for individuals as well as institutions.

“We need to identify our problems, find solutions, and improve our ability to implement a solution within a specific timeline,” he said. He concluded that commitment is the vital factor needed in this regard.

The education minister reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in education. He lamented that Pakistan has been slipping in the Learning Poverty Index, adding that with increased access to education, quality has become a challenge.

Referring to the recently-launched Kamyab Jawan Programme, Mahmood said that it aims to promote start-ups and incubation activities. To support underprivileged students, he maintained that 50,000 undergraduate scholarships have been announced under the Prime Minister Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Programme.

HEC Chairman Tariq Banuri said that the theme of the conference corresponds with their reforms agenda apart from starting a national conversation on ‘quality’.

US Ambassador Paul Jones stated that America is proud of its educational linkages with Pakistan.

“I have, over three decades in diplomacy, have not seen a more effective partner in education than the HEC,” he said, adding that the US recently entered into 23 partnerships with Pakistani institutions, while 100 Pakistanis have been sent to America under the US-Pakistan Academic and Cultural Exchange Programme.

Thus far, he said that the US has awarded 19,000 need-based scholarships to Pakistani students. US-Pakistan Centres of Advanced Studies have also been established in the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad; University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar; and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2019.