The ministry has received 15 applications from across the country in the past week after asking the provinces to put forward names of reputed academicians. PHOTO: FILE
For the second time, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has rejected a summary to extend the tenure of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education’s (FBISE) head.
According to sources at the Ministry of Education, Trainings and Higher Education, the summary was sent to the PM Secretariat for approval a week ago. It was returned a couple of days ago with key observations.
The chairperson of FBISE is generally appointed on a four-year term. Incumbent Shaheen Khan, who was found guilty of plagiarism by the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) anti-plagiarism committee, has been promoted to grade-21 in clear violation of the anti-plagiarism policy.
Khan has had a topsy-turvy tenure — whose four years will officially come to an end on September 19 — during which issues about the legitimacy of her degree surfaced.
Khan served as HEC Sports director-general (DG) immediately after the commission’s inception and was then appointed as FBISE chairperson in 2009.
She and two other officers of the same grade were granted time-scale promotions by a selection board in February by the HEC where she is currently a DG on deputation.
Khan, who has a PhD from the University of Karachi, has also faced charges of plagiarism during the process of obtaining that degree. In 2010, her case was sent to the university’s Political Science Department. Case proceedings were to be concluded within 90 days, but the varsity did not issue a verdict even after a year had passed.
Then, on October 26, 2011, an HEC committee was formed, as a result of which the commission decided to withdraw the PhD degree awarded to Khan. However, on the same day, she moved the Islamabad High Court and received a stay order before the HEC could take further action. The case is still pending with the apex court.
The PM’s observations, which included the rejection of Khan’s extension as FBISE head, also recommended that the nominee for the post be an educationist with a strong academic background and healthy administrative experience. The names were asked to be resubmitted.
The ministry has received 15 applications from across the country in the past week after asking the provinces to put forward names of reputed academicians.
“The applicants will be interviewed at the ministry this week and the shortlisted names will be resubmitted to the PM for final approval and selection,” said a senior ministry official.
Khan, known for her political affiliations, approached many high ups in both the ministry and PML-N in hope of getting her extension, with no success.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2013.
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