KARACHI – Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Mian Raza Rabbani has said that funds to scholars studying aboard would not stop and that they will continue to receive their scholarship as usual.
Speaking to the media at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday, he said that it was beyond his understanding as to why some elements were creating ‘a scary situation’ about the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and misguiding the media and the people.
He said that the cabinet had approved recommendations by the Implementation Commission for 18th Amendment to set up a new body to replace the HEC. He said that the new body, like HEC, would evaluate the performance of Institutions. Rabbani said the new body would be authorised to set up examination bodies or designate any existing body for the purpose.
It will also determine the equivalence and recognition of degrees, diplomas and certificates of higher education awarded by institutions within the country and abroad. “The new HEC will develop guidelines for evaluation of performance of faculty members and Institutions,” he added.
He said all the universities and the HEC would be consulted before any decision was to be taken. Rabbani said the spirit of 18th Amendment is reconciliation, dialogue and consensus building. He said that it was the wrong notion that the devolution of HEC would compromise the standard of education.
Rabbani said that the Implementation Commission was ‘silently’ working, but he had to respond to the hype created nation-wide.
