Appointment on top posts: Ball in PM’s court, says education ministry

ISLAMABAD:

In a reply to the Prime Minister’s Office regarding delay in appointment of heads of top educational bodies, Ministry of Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education stated that almost all the summaries were pending with the premier for approval.

Taking note of a news report published in this newspaper, the premier had directed the ministry to submit a reply within three days.

The story was about delays in the appointment of heads of top educational institutions including Higher Education Commission (HEC), National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and a Unesco representative. The Supreme Court, on October 28, ordered the government to appoint an HEC head without any delay as the body has been without a head since August 28.

“A summary regarding appointment of the HEC chairman has been pending approval by the premier since September 24,” the ministry stated in a reply to the premier’s office.

About the appointment of a Unesco representative, the ministry said a summary was moved on September 13 to the PM Office which too is pending approval.

Regarding the appointment of NAVTTC and NCHD chairman, the ministry said the cases were under review while a summary for appointing NAVTTC’s executive director was moved to the PM Office through the Establishment Division on September 3.

The FBISE chairperson’s was still sub judice, the ministry said but it was awaiting a reply from the law division in this regard.

Sources in the ministry told The Express Tribune that PM’s preoccupation with other things was the main reason behind the appointment delays.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2013.