Promoting education: Senate panel for resetting priorities

Over 400 PhD students on indigenous scholarships were left stranded due to the shortage of funds.

ISLAMABAD:

A parliamentary panel gave a two-week deadline to the Finance Division for releasing funds of Rs2.9 billion to the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The Senate Standing Committee on Education and Training took up the implementation of recommendations made in the last meeting relating to the release of last fiscal year’s remaining funds for the HEC.

Finance Additional Secretary Dr Shujaat, when questioned about the funds status of the release by ANP Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash, said that the process was complex.

The reply infuriated the chairman who accused the division of using bureaucratic delaying tactics.

He asked why the division had not complied with the senate body’s order even after the formation of a three-member committee to address the issue.

Dr Shujaat suggested to the committee that a summary be moved by the education ministry to resolve the issue. Bangash said if funds were not released by the deadline, he would use some other option to resolve the issue.

HEC Executive Director Dr Mukhtar said that due to severe shortage of funds, over 400 PhD students on indigenous scholarships were left stranded.

Bangash stated that Laghari had politicised the HEC. “The government should avoid appointing people with political affiliations on prestigious posts.” He also expressed concern over the delay in filling vacant posts in the National Commission for Human Development and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission.

ANP Senator Afrasiab Khattak said in a country like Pakistan, where a lot of money was being spent on security, the government needs to reset its priorities and spend more on education. Bangash, endorsing his point added that lack of investment in the education sector had led the government to fight a war against its illiterate citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2013.