FAPUSA demands appointment of HEC chairman

Islamabad: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has demanded an end to extension and adhocism culture in higher education sector with appointment of new Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman and vice chancellors through an open, competitive and merit-based mechanism.

Talking the faculty delegations from various universities of Punjab here, FAPUASA Central President Prof Dr Kaleemullah Barech and President Dr Shehzad Ashraf said extension, adhocism culture and non-merit based appointments at key positions in the higher education sector had adversely affected the progress of higher education in Pakistan, according to a press release issued here Sunday.

Dr Kaleemullah said in the light of Supreme Court verdicts, all the appointments in higher education sector, especially those of the HEC chairman and vice chancellors should be done through an open and transparent mechanism, including advertisements, instead of granting extensions.

He said it was high time to advertise the post of HEC chairman. There was dire need to give chance to dynamic personalities to lead the higher education sector both at national and provincial levels. As per best practices in the world sector, the posts in higher education sector should be advertised three months earlier before the end of tenure of the incumbent, he added.