Federal Minister for Education and Training Sheikh Waqas Akram, held a meeting with the Vice Chancellors of public sector Universities on Thursday and discussed issues pertaining to HEC and the proposed legislation regarding the institution.
The Minister apprised the Vice Chancellors that the Government endorses the autonomy and the independence of HEC. He said that “it is completely a false and baseless impression that the Government is working to undermine the functional independence of HEC and to bring it under the control of the Ministry of Education and Training”.
The HEC is placed with the Ministry of Education and Training only for the purposes of Parliamentary business and for the effective coordination with other Ministries/Divisions.
The Bill tabled in the National Assembly for amendments in the HEC Ordinance, 2002 is a Private member Bill, and not a Government Bill said Waqas. The Minister assured the Vice Chancellors that their suggestions for strengthening the HEC will be incorporated by the Ministry