National Testing Service, a private body, has been conducting entry tests of universities, but earlier this year, the Lahore High Court ordered the HEC to form a body of its own or assign the task to a new body after open bidding.
Galvanised into action after being reprimanded by the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Training, the HEC held its governing body’s meeting on Friday after a record 17 months. The commission has been citing unavailability of the members for multiple postponements.
The governing board running the HEC consists of 18 members — two federal secretaries, four representatives of the provinces, an executive director, one vice chancellor and 10 nominees of the prime minister.
Meetings of the HEC’s commission or governing body are held to take policy decisions about higher education in the country. The 18-member commission is currently short of nine members.
The last time the HEC governing body had met was in April 2013. It postponed three scheduled meetings, the latest of which was supposed to be held on April 7, 2014, before the board finally met on Friday.
The commission discussed the higher education sector in the post-18th Amendment scenario. Participants agreed that wide consultations should be carried out with the provinces to ensure that activities undertaken by provinces are in harmony with the provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan, especially articles 153 and 154.
HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that a series of meetings will be held with provinces after Eid.
The meeting approved revised budget estimates for the financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14 and budget estimate for 2014-15. The HEC chairman appreciated the government regarding the highest-ever allocation Rs18 billion for higher education in the current budget.
The commission, under section 10 of the HEC Ordinance, also decided to select a new testing body through a competitive process. The Commission authorised HEC chairman to constitute a sub-committee of the commission including technical members with expertise in assessment and testing services to review and prescribe a regulatory and statutory framework for monitoring and quality assurance of such a testing service.
The members also reviewed and approved the scope of National Technology Council in terms of programmes and disciplines falling under the purview of the council.
The commission also ratified the minutes of the selection board meeting held on July 16, 2014, with minor observations. It also confirmed a few appointments made on deputation basis. The governing body directed that all vacant positions should be advertised.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2014.
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