Senate body demands accountability for delay in lecturers’ reinstatement

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training directed the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to provide updated information and hold accountable those responsible for the eight-month delay in implementing the notification regarding the reinstatement of 137 lecturers.

Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training Bushra Anjum Butt took notice of the absence of representatives from the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) from the meeting. She directed that a letter be sent to the AGPR seeking an explanation for their absence.

The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, was held at the Old PIPs Hall, Parliament Lodges, on Wednesday.

It was attended by Senators Irfanul Haq Siddiqui, Falaz Naz, Fawzia Arshad, Ashraf Ali Jatoi, Syed Masroor Ahsan, Kamran Murtaza, and Khalida Ateeb, along with senior representatives from relevant departments.

During the discussion on the implementation of the notification dated October 27, 2023, regarding the reinstatement of 137 lecturers by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the committee provided an opportunity for all stakeholders to present their cases.

Following a detailed review, it was determined that the October 27 notification for employee reinstatement was valid and should have been fully implemented.

The chairperson emphasised the need for collaboration among institutions to avoid court delays, noting that timely and cooperative action could prevent issues from escalating to the courts.

The ministry reported that of the 137 employees, the AGPR had released salaries for 87. The chairperson enquired about the non-release of salaries for the remaining employees and was informed that the AGPR had not released these salaries due to court restrictions.

The committee extensively reviewed several issues, including unregistered universities, the attestation of degrees for affected students, teacher reinstatement, and the affiliation policy introduced by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

They also addressed administrative and operational concerns related to Punjab University.

The chairperson sought the presence of an AGPR representative, who was absent. Consequently, she directed that a letter be sent to the AGPR seeking an explanation for their absence.

The committee concluded by directing the ministry to provide updated information and hold accountable those responsible for the eight-month delay in implementing the notification.

The committee also addressed the issue of unregistered universities. Representatives from the University of New Port Institute of Communication and Economics Karachi, South Asian University Lahore, and Preston Institute of Management Science and Technology Karachi, Lahore, and their affiliated branches presented their cases.

The committee discussed mechanisms for degree attestation to prevent fraudulent degrees, as previously outlined in meetings with the HEC. For attestation, a commission will draft a checklist for universities, including:

Student fee details, which may include bank statements from the university Admission forms, transcripts, and other required documents Approval from the Board of Governors Universities must provide an affidavit guaranteeing the accuracy of the data. Once the data is verified, the checklist will be cross-checked with student records before attestation is granted.

The chairperson instructed the HEC and universities to collaborate on drafting the data form and student checklist and to update the committee in the next meeting. Additionally, she directed the establishment of a grievance desk to assist students with document attestation and related queries and sought a follow-up on this initiative.

The committee also examined Punjab University’s revised policy for affiliating universities, which includes defining jurisdiction for granting affiliations, monitoring and evaluating affiliated colleges, and implementing HEC policies. The university proposed amendments to the policy, but the chairperson emphasised that policy matters should remain free from any self-serving interests, ensuring that public educational entities operate transparently and effectively.