Future of the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) postgraduate foreign scholarships still remains uncertain despite repeated assurances by the federal government, Pakistan Today has learnt. A large number of students who cleared the General Assessment Test (GAT) with excellent marks are uncertain about the scholarships. GAT is mandatory to apply for postgraduate scholarships abroad. Thousands of students are already abroad and depending on funds of HEC. Although, the HEC notified on its website some time ago, “it gives us immense pleasure to inform that all HEC overseas scholarships have resumed on funding assurance from the federal government.
A new advertisement will soon be published in all major national dailies and the HEC official website. Interested candidates are advised to please take GAT to be conducted by the NTS in April, as the HEC will not conduct separate tests for scholarships.” Students fear that their academic year is about to end but no clear cut policy by the HEC might halt their scholarships and future plans. The HEC restricted its postgraduate foreign scholarships after the paucity of funds. It started its foreign PhD programme scholarships for students having completed 16 years of education. Students claim that their hard work for preparation of the test might go in vain.
They urged the HEC and other authorities to end ambiguity about the scholarship schemes and convey a clear-cut message in this regard. Students also fear that a new institution, which will be established after dissolution of the HEC, might change the criteria for selection of scholars leading to nepotism. They claimed that if the HEC is devolved to provinces then the programme might be halted given the lack of a similar infrastructure in provinces. Punjab University (PU) student Sajid Ali said that he got an admitssion in PU in 2007 for BS (Hons) in Communication Studies and at that time, the HEC was sending a large number of students abroad, but now the situation was looking gloomy.
Sajid said that he cleared GAT with good marks but could no longer apply for the scholarship adding that applying for PhD in a foreign university demands millions of rupees. He claimed that students who were interested in research would have to opt for business or other professions. HEC Assistant Director Bashir Muhammad told Pakistan Today that the scholarship programmes have not ended but put on hold due to limited funds. He said that the HEC’s top priority is to fulfil needs of those scholars who are already studying under HEC scholarships. Bashir hoped that the criteria for selection of scholars would not change.
He said that some Pakistani scholars who went to Cuba through the HEC had not even crossed their own district but now they are getting a huge exposure. Another student said that after the Punjab governor’s assurance that the HEC will continue functioning, the situation should get clear.
