Pakistan

Govt to discuss money matters with VCs

Gilani forms six member committee to address the financial problems facing the HEC.

Express September 19, 2010

The government on Saturday formed a committee to discuss funding matters with vice-chancellors of public sector universities. It remains to be seen how much the government can spare in the wake of the flood devastations.

The committee was formed on the directives of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to resolve a dispute over funding.

The committee consists of Deputy Chief of the Planning Commission Dr Nadeemul Haq, Secretary Education Imtiaz Qazi, Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Javed Laghari and three university vice-chancellors.

Earlier, vice-chancellors of more than 70 public sector universities had threatened to resign, besides suspending academic activities after the government refused to release more funds.

This fiscal year’s budgetary allocations for higher education have been slashed by more than 70 per cent.

Despite cutbacks, because of “serious financial constraints” the prime minister has promised to provide educational institutions “adequate funds”, adding that it will also provide financial assistance to students studying abroad.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2010.

COMMENTS (4)

Sultan Ahmed. | 13 years ago | Reply The fact is that, government has lost its credibility due to devastation of mighty flood.

Hassan Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Govt is completely gone mad and has no clue how bad it could be for our people

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asad | 13 years ago | Reply I think Government has been using this tactic, to form a committee if they want to put aside some issue, i have never heard or seen any committee declaring its findings and its proposed solution. But now the case of HEC is really of great importance for our nation if we unable to do anything for it now then history will never forgive us as we are already a illeterate and deprived nation. Government have to cut his expenses and the super cabinet so that the saved money can be used for the education purpose but as we all know this is not going to happen as they will never give up their extra facilities for the sake of nation. They only hear masses only in the time of elections and make promises. Our government has to realise that if they were unable to give education as the last government beside all wrongdoings have done good in higher education. The Prime Minister and President house has more budget then HEC, from this u can understand the priority given to education in the democratic government. As in most public sector universities mostly the students of middle class families are graduating then it will be very hard for those middle class families to pay the increased fees as recommended by democratic finance minister Hafeez Sheikh.

Akhtar Miss | 13 years ago | Reply This shameful policy ever adopted by the current Governemnt, it should cut down its own budget, expenses, in fact the Governmnet has failed to deliver in all fields,even the educartional institutions are not safe from her ineffeciency. Moreover, the HEC also should have honest people, it grants/granted them to it wants/wanted, many ineligible faculty membrs are getting scholarship and they are studying in the universities which are not even listed on the HEC list, e.g READING university, UK. waht a funny criteria to facilitate the university teachers for future?Too funney that non-PhD people are setting the criteria for the Ph D people. HEC should be checked by an independent body.

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