Overloaded: Degree attestation becomes herculean task at HEC
Backlog continues to hurt applicants; DG says issue will be resolved ‘soon’.
The chairperson cited the attestation of politicians’ degree on the order of the SC and ECP as the reason for the massive backlog. PHOTO: CREATIVE COMMONS
ISLAMABAD:
Despite recent measures to address the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) degree attestation backlog, the problem seems to have gotten worse, with four to six-week delays becoming the norm.
Recently, the Attestation and Accreditation Department (AA) has been trying to resolve the problem, and brought in Raza Chohan as the AA director general earlier this week, while Ayesha Ikram was appointed the director.
The department offers attestation via courier and in person, with both seeing delays of well over a month.
Insiders have informed The Express Tribune that mismanagement by previous heads of the AA department created a lot of problems, which in turn created headaches for people across the country.
According to sources, breaking away from standard operating procedures is one of the main causes of the backlog.
HEC Chairperson Javed Laghari told The Express Tribune that he has been conducting meetings for the last few weeks and has directed the department to clear the backlog by June 1.
“The issue is serious as it is difficult for hundreds of people to stand outside in the scorching sun for degree attestation and [Laghari] is pursuing the issue personally,” the source added.
The chairperson cited the attestation of politicians’ degree on the order of the Supreme Court and Election Commission of Pakistan as the reason for the massive backlog.
Sources also said that the HEC is considering to hire the services of more courier companies to address the delay in sending and receiving degrees from inside and outside the country.
According to the chairman, 500 to 1,000 people visit HEC daily for attestation.
“After clearing the backlog, in person applicants will get the degrees attested on the same day, while it will take a week for those who send it through courier,” Laghari said.
He said that once the issue is resolved, the AA department will function smoothly.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2013.
Despite recent measures to address the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) degree attestation backlog, the problem seems to have gotten worse, with four to six-week delays becoming the norm.
Recently, the Attestation and Accreditation Department (AA) has been trying to resolve the problem, and brought in Raza Chohan as the AA director general earlier this week, while Ayesha Ikram was appointed the director.
The department offers attestation via courier and in person, with both seeing delays of well over a month.
Insiders have informed The Express Tribune that mismanagement by previous heads of the AA department created a lot of problems, which in turn created headaches for people across the country.
According to sources, breaking away from standard operating procedures is one of the main causes of the backlog.
HEC Chairperson Javed Laghari told The Express Tribune that he has been conducting meetings for the last few weeks and has directed the department to clear the backlog by June 1.
“The issue is serious as it is difficult for hundreds of people to stand outside in the scorching sun for degree attestation and [Laghari] is pursuing the issue personally,” the source added.
The chairperson cited the attestation of politicians’ degree on the order of the Supreme Court and Election Commission of Pakistan as the reason for the massive backlog.
Sources also said that the HEC is considering to hire the services of more courier companies to address the delay in sending and receiving degrees from inside and outside the country.
According to the chairman, 500 to 1,000 people visit HEC daily for attestation.
“After clearing the backlog, in person applicants will get the degrees attested on the same day, while it will take a week for those who send it through courier,” Laghari said.
He said that once the issue is resolved, the AA department will function smoothly.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2013.