Devolution woes: Lawmakers suggest keeping HEC intact
HEC chief propose formation of a task force at HEC level to oversee devolution.
HEC chief propose formation of a task force at HEC level to oversee devolution. PHOTO: HEC.GOV.PK
ISLAMABAD:
The convener of the National Assembly Sub-Committee on Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education has asked of the top education regulatory body to go beyond its mandated role and help find solutions to issues facing Pakistan.
Taking note of this, while seemingly forgetting the quagmire that the commission is already in, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chief promised to “soon” share a proposal on the formation of think tanks regarding water, energy, agriculture and other issues in the next meeting and how universities could help in this regard.
The meeting, headed by Member National Assembly (MNA) Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, was called to examine the allocation of grants and scholarships. The committee suggested that the HEC should not be dissolved following the establishment of provincial level higher education bodies.
MNA Chaudhry Hamid Hameed expressed concern over the news that provinces were establishing their own higher education bodies without the formal consent of the HEC.
HEC Acting Chairperson Imtiaz Hussain Gilani commented that they were not opposed to the formation of provincial bodies, but groundwork should be done instead of making rushed decisions.
“It took us almost a decade to build a higher education body that is now an example for other countries. An abrupt end to it may affect quality of education at university level,” he remarked.
He also suggested the formation of a task force at the HEC to oversee the devolution.
The members agreed that the committee will reach out to the provinces to let them know the importance of the HEC at federal level and how they could run their respective bodies.
Hameed was of the view that budgets of universities and registration should remain with the provincial bodies, while the federal HEC should be a a monitoring, ranking and evaluation authority with administrative control of development funds.
Besides, the issue of accreditation councils also came under the discussion. The members were of the view that councils like Pakistan Engineering Councils should come under the commission.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2014.
The convener of the National Assembly Sub-Committee on Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education has asked of the top education regulatory body to go beyond its mandated role and help find solutions to issues facing Pakistan.
Taking note of this, while seemingly forgetting the quagmire that the commission is already in, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chief promised to “soon” share a proposal on the formation of think tanks regarding water, energy, agriculture and other issues in the next meeting and how universities could help in this regard.
The meeting, headed by Member National Assembly (MNA) Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, was called to examine the allocation of grants and scholarships. The committee suggested that the HEC should not be dissolved following the establishment of provincial level higher education bodies.
MNA Chaudhry Hamid Hameed expressed concern over the news that provinces were establishing their own higher education bodies without the formal consent of the HEC.
HEC Acting Chairperson Imtiaz Hussain Gilani commented that they were not opposed to the formation of provincial bodies, but groundwork should be done instead of making rushed decisions.
“It took us almost a decade to build a higher education body that is now an example for other countries. An abrupt end to it may affect quality of education at university level,” he remarked.
He also suggested the formation of a task force at the HEC to oversee the devolution.
The members agreed that the committee will reach out to the provinces to let them know the importance of the HEC at federal level and how they could run their respective bodies.
Hameed was of the view that budgets of universities and registration should remain with the provincial bodies, while the federal HEC should be a a monitoring, ranking and evaluation authority with administrative control of development funds.
Besides, the issue of accreditation councils also came under the discussion. The members were of the view that councils like Pakistan Engineering Councils should come under the commission.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2014.