Call to ensure autonomy of universities

LAHORE

The implementation of 18th Constitutional Amendment to education especially higher education sector and autonomy of universities should be ensured.

It was resolved by the participants on Monday at 2nd roundtable conference on “Six years of 18th Constitutional Amendment: Equity and Autonomy of Universities” organised by Pakistan Social Services Partnership, coalition of 85 civil society organisations, Civil Society Network Pakistan and other organisations at the local hotel.

The event was presided over by former secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad and attended by academicians, parliamentarians, university faculty, researchers and representatives of civil society. 

The unanimous resolution stated that the autonomy of universities and academic freedom on campuses must be respected by federal/provincial HECs, as per true spirit of 18th Constitutional Amendment. A new Commission on Higher Education standards be formed by federal government as per mandated by the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which should repeal the existing one.

The next NFC Award must be finalised and announced immediately so that every province could have adequate resources for education and health. The ban on student unions must be lifted immediately. The participants also demanded that 18th Amendment should be implemented in higher education sector without any further delay. Realising their responsibilities, the provincial governments should undertake concrete steps to strengthen provincial higher education set-ups through provision of adequate financial resources so that the growing needs of Pakistani universities could be met in an effective way. As per UNESCO standards, 25 percent of total education budget should be allocated for higher education in 2016-17 budget and proper utilisation should be ensured of allocated development budget.

Council for Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) President Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan former vice-chancellor Dr Syed Alqma, Prof Dr Mohammad Akram Chaudhry, former vice-chancellor University of Sargodha, Hafeezullah Khan Niazi columnist, Asghar Abid columnist, Azhar Siddique senior advocate, Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Gulbaz Ali Khan, Executive Director, Centre for Inclusive Governance and Abdullah Malik President Civil Society Network Pakistan Prof Dr Abdul Hameed also spoke.

They also demanded immediate resolution of HEC-COMSATS dual degree through recognising the degrees of 2,700 affected students.

Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami said that provincial governments should realise their financial responsibilities towards promoting higher education and maximum funding should be allocated for universities. The Council of Common Interests should be activated to resolve the outstanding issues, he added. He suggested that VCs forum needed to be effective in order to chalk out joint strategy for protecting universities’ autonomy. He also lamented over maltreatment with Prof Dr Syed Alqma.

Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad emphasised on the resolution of all the issues in education sector as per the Constitution. Hafeezullah Niazi lamented over a ban on students unions. He said that only autonomous universities could guarantee merit based admissions and appointments. 

Prof Dr Syed Alqma said that universities were autonomous bodies and hub for knowledge creation. Their autonomy should be respected like the other developed countries. 

Dr Mohammad Akram Chaudhry that the inclusion of a great number of politicians in university syndicates had adversely affected universities’ autonomy.