HEC chairman asks VCs to ensure quality of education

Islamabad
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed on Saturday issued an impassioned appeal to vice chancellors to pay heed to governance issues that beset their universities as well as ensure quality education at the sub campuses that have been set up.
“There is no doubt regarding the need to increase access but not at the cost of quality, “ he said while addressing the 17th Vice Chancellors’ Committee meeting held in Islamabad where over 65 vice chancellors of public sector universities were present.
In his address, he also pointed out that many of their woes were due to governance issues and needed serious attention urgently. Vice Chancellors were united in their demand for review for autonomy of their universities after different provinces have amended laws that govern their universities.
The head of leading educational universities passed a resolution saying, “We the Vice Chancellors of public sector universities are of the opinion that recent changes in laws governing universities is an attempt to usurp their autonomy.”
However, they appreciated the Federal Minister for development Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Chairman HEC, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed for increased funding and its smooth release within each financial quarter.
After detailed deliberations, the vice chancellors agreed the need to curtail MS and PhD programme at sub campuses and allow them only to offer under graduate programs after ensuring strict compliance with HEC prescribed eligibility criteria. The HEC has issued multiple warning to educational institutions to follow the criteria set for them.
Earlier, the chairman also informed the gathering that the HEC has received an additional Rs7 billion development grant for completion of projects that were pending due to lack of funds in previous years and Rs3 billion recurring grant to facilitate operational expenses. Through these additional funds over 80 projects would be completed by the end of the year.
The meeting also reviewed the Public Private Partnership model which is a contractual agreement framed between public and private sector partners due to variances witnessed as well as causing quality issues.