VCs oppose proposed amendments to HEC ordinance

University heads unanimously push for commission's autonomy

ISLAMABAD:

The vice-chancellors and rectors of various public and private sector universities have expressed concerns over the proposed amendments in the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Ordinance and the Public Account and Payment Procedure, 2022.

According to sources, two separate meetings of the university heads of public and private sectors were held at the HEC quarters in Islamabad on Monday.

Vice-chancellors from twin cities physically joined the meetings while those from other parts of the country virtually attended the meetings.

Both the forums unanimously opposed the proposed amendments and demanded that the government should strengthen the autonomous status of the HEC if it wanted the higher education sector to develop as per international standards.

The vice-chancellors noted that amendments like delegation of powers of the controlling authority from the PM to the ministry concerned, drastic revision in composition and reduction in the size of the commission, etc. would compromise the basic mission for which the HEC was founded.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2022.