PM directs Finance Ministry to provide uninterrupted funds to HEC

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed the Ministry of Finance to ensure provision of uninterrupted funds to cope with the needs of the Higher Education Commission despite the economic difficulties being faced by Pakistan.

He gave this direction to the ministry while chairing a meeting to review the matters relating to the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The Prime Minister asked for transfer of financial powers to the HEC executive director as well as the principal accounting officer of the institution so as to avoiding any delay in release of funds. The issue of financial constraints also echoed in the Senate a few days back, which adopted a resolution for additional release of funds to the commission.

The prime minister called upon the HEC to formulate the curriculum in a way to acquaint the youth about the Islamic teachings, eastern values, local culture and the philosophy of the great saints.

He emphasisd the onslaught of technology and Western and other alien cultures posed threats to indigenous culture and traditions besides creating extremism by estranging the youth from the teachings of Islam and saints.

The prime minister constituted a committee under the education minister to address the issues of resources, financial rules and regulations of the universities.

Those in attendance included Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, special assistants to Prime Minister Dr Sania Nishtar, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Dr Zafar Mirza, Usman Dar, Dr Moeed Yousuf, HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Binori, former Secretary and Consultant on Institutional Reforms Dr Fazal Abbas Mekan.

The forum was briefed by HEC chairman on the reforms introduced by the commission, modernizing the higher education, and the issues being faced by the institution.

The Education Minister said the easy access to higher education for students, improving the quality of faculty and graduates and uplifting the research standards in accordance with modern day needs were the challenges facing the HEC. He pointed out that the HEC had devised a comprehensive reforms programme to address the administrative issues as well as cope with the requirement of the capable human resource.

On his part, Dr Tariq Binori said that the HEC’s reforms programme consisted of the measures for students’ success, standards of the faculty, improvement of governance in universities, promotion of technology and research and financial stability of the universities. He told the meeting that the 48-point reforms agenda encompassed all the issues confronting the higher education sector.

Dr Bionori explained the HEC was working in coordination with the Ehsaas Programme, Kamyab Jawan Programme, health ministry, National Highways Authority, Public Private Partnership Authority, energy sector, national security and other institutions to ensure the utilization of youth’s skills for productive purposes.

The meeting was also informed that under Kamyab Shagird (successful disciple) programme, the HEC was striving to ensure the students’ standards at the time of admission as well as the capacity building of the faculty. On the cabinet’s directives, the HEC had formulated a national testing system for recruitment across the country.

Regarding the curriculum design, he said it should be done in a way to enhance the students’ capabilities in the relevant subjects as well as help improve his practical skills. The HEC was also giving special focus on the criteria of admissions in higher education, their counseling and quality research, he added.

The committee, headed by the Education Minister would present a report to the prime minister recommending the steps to achieve the autonomy and improve their administration.

The prime minister also directed the education minister to formulate a joint strategy in coordination with the provincial governments to establish universities across the country, improve their standards and work out the matters concerning the curriculum and higher education.