Only 0.22pc being spent on higher education in Pakistan

LAHORE:Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed has said that self-accountability is necessary along with autonomy of universities for their overall development in a true manner.

He was addressing a seminar on ‘Higher Education in Pakistan: Governance, Finance and Quality’, organised by Punjab University Institute of Education & Research (IER) and Academia on Monday.

CEO Knowledge Streams & former Executive Director HEC Dr Sohail Naqvi, FAPUASA President Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi, IER Director Prof Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry, faculty members and students were present.

In his address, Dr Mukhtar said that the higher education sector in Pakistan was facing issues like governance and quality which are related to financial matters. He said that many universities in Pakistan are facing difficulties to pay salaries and pensions, and even electricity bills. He said that to deal with these issues, teachers should focus on their responsibilities instead of negative politics. He said that only 0.22% is being spent on higher education in Pakistan, for which the federal and provincial governments have to play a role in increasing the budget. He said that universities should strictly follow the rules and regulations to improve the academic matters of affiliated colleges. He said that instead of blaming each other, we should work together to increase the skills of the talented youth of Pakistan. He said that industrialists should also be made members of the Academic Council for changes in the curriculum according to the requirements of the modern era. He appreciated the efforts of the organisers for organising a fruitful event.

Director HEC Dr Sohail Naqvi said that annual publications in Pakistan have reached almost 40,000 but are completely ineffective for the society. He said that the HEC has no role in the appointment of Vice Chancellors in universities. He said that universities are a place for the community of scholars and if the lawmakers and the implementers work together, a better system can develop. He said that it is regrettable that only 1.4% of GDP is being spent on education in Pakistan. He said that the youth of Pakistan are very talented and this is her biggest asset.

Dr Magsi said that higher education in Pakistan has never faced so many problems at one time as it is facing now. He said that the no role of HEC in the appointment of Vice Chancellors from universities across the country has proven to be harmful. He said that for more than two years, universities in Punjab and other provinces continued to work on ad hoc basis without vice chancellors, which led to financial and administrative problems. He said that governance, economy and quality cannot improve without promoting merit and credibility. He said that the enactment of legislation for the appointment of non-PhDs in Sindh universities is a regrettable act. He said that attempts are being made to reduce the role of teachers in universities in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well.