ISLAMABAD – In order to press the government not to devolve the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to the provinces, vice chancellors from across the country will assemble on Thursday at HEC headquarters to show solidarity against the decision.
A senior official at HEC said more than 30 VCs of private and public sector universities would be gathering at HEC, to evolve a joint strategy to avert the commission’s potential devolution in the name of implementation of the 18th Amendment. The VCs are coming together on a call by University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar VC Imtiaz Gillani.
Talking to Pakistan Today, VC of Quaid-e-Azam University Prof Dr Muhammad Masoom Yasinzai said all VCs of public and private universities would be present at HEC on Thursday in a bid to save the commission, which has gained international acclaim for its contributions for the country’s education sector.
“HEC has given a success story to the nation within eight years of its formation by producing as much PhD scholars as produced in the last sixty years,” said he added. Meanwhile, students of Islamabad-based universities are set to stage a massive protest demonstration in the next couple of days against the government for its decision to devolve HEC to provinces.
“The devolution of HEC will destroy a decade-long investment on the higher education sector and have negative repercussion as for as the next generation is concerned,” said a student at NUML. On the other hand, Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment chairman Mian Raza Rabbani said the government would not reverse the devolution process. He said the ongoing scholarship programmes initiated by HEC would not be affected.
“The mechanism for continuation of scholarships and utilisation of funds would be evolved later,” he added.
Vice-chancellors to finalise strategy on HEC devolution today
