Two-year degree programme nears end

HEC says will stop certifying such degrees from Dec 3 onwards

ISLAMABAD:

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has resolved to abolish two-year bachelor and master degrees from all over the country effective from next year.

As per HEC’s decision, degrees of students registered under two-year of bachelor of art (BA), bachelor of science (BSc), bachelor of commerce (BCom), master of art (MA) and master of science (MSc) and Master of Commerce (MCom) degree will not be certified effective from December 3, 2020.

However, students admitted up to the fall session of academic year 2020 will be eligible for the two-year degrees.

As per the letter sent by HEC to all universities and higher educational institutions, the commission in its 31st meeting decided that the two-year MA and MSc degree programmes would be terminated. The letter makes reference to its notifications dated March 15, 2017 and July 11 2019 reminding the phasing out of the two year programmes.

The letter said that higher education institutes (HEIs) are again advised to comply with the HEC decision and to ensure that the same is effectively communicated to potential students through display on website, prospectus, and student guidebook. Degrees shall not be recognised by HEC for students enrolled in two year MA/MSc degree programmes after December 31, 2020, it said.

Facilitating differently-abled students

HEC is pondering upon measures to bring differently-abled students to mainstream and facilitate them in every possible manner. Different options were under consideration to facilitate differently-abled students including age relaxation, wheelchair friendly buildings, scholarship and fee waivers, and special transport facility within campuses, the official sources of HEC said on Wednesday.

They said that ICT Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2020 had already been passed. It extended to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and therefore it was also binding on universities in the area, they added. HEC will review its existing policy for differently-abled students in light of this Act.

They also highlighted HEC's initiatives to facilitate differently-abled students, including promulgation of HEC policy on the subject, distribution of wheelchairs, establishment of Well Being Centres and formation of Student Clubs under Prime Minister's Kamyab Jawan Programme.

According to them, HEC was making all out efforts to mainstream such students in the higher education sector. While another Official from HEC told APP that special attention needed to be given to students with visual impairment, hearing disabilities or mobility challenges.He said that HEC had taken the task for defining categories of differently-abled students so that there should be a clear distinction among students with different needs.

He said that HEC hoped that the vice chancellors would take lead in implementation of policies on facilities for differently abled students.

With additional input by APP

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2020.