All the political parties in their manifestos have focused on reforms in education sector to a larger extent for the first time in the history with commitments to enhance education budget up to 4 percent of GDP by 2018 and strengthen autonomous position of HEC which is a good sign.
The political parties especially Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, Pakistan Muslim league (F) and Pakistan Muslim League (Q) have given special focus on educational reforms this time.
Talking to APP, Rozina Alam Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-N
said her party has prioritized changing destiny of nation through initiating reforms in education system of the country.
She said her party’s manifesto clearly speaks of its commitment toward uplift of higher education sector in the country especially through strengthening Higher Education Commission (HEC) that has achieved tremendous success during the previous years.
She said HEC was given tough time during the last few years, however the commission continued its efforts toward promotion of higher education, bringing countries universities at par with international institutions which is commendable.
The way youth has expressed confidence over PML-N, it would definitely remove the financial constraints being faced by HEC during the previous regime, giving it complete autonomy, she said.
Meanwhile, Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Javed R Laghari said it is a good omen that for the first time in the history of the country, leading political parties have given that much importance to education in their manifestos.
It is quite welcoming step that the political forces have realized that no nation can achieve progress without educating its youth”, he said. He said PML-N has expressed its commitment to increase spending on education up to 4 percent of GDP till the year 2018, gradually.
It was conveyed through many interactive forums at universities, students and Vice Chancellors level that HEC has suffered from financial constraints due to low budgetary allocations and the leading political party PML-N has given it so much importance, he said.
He said PML-N has enjoyed the support of youth as the over whelming majority of youth with all their intellectual and emotional sentiments has supported the party through giving their votes, hoping for the better future.
According to the PML-N manifesto, it would enhance education budget upto 4% of GDP by 2018, give greater autonomy to HEC and promote vocational and technical education.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has committed to make the HEC fully autonomous, make universities a hub for research and autonomous by de-linking these from government, increase university enrolment by establishing new universities and enlarging existing capacity and focus on university education in sciences and encourage collaboration with foreign universities.
Pakistan Muslim League (Q) committed to give HEC autonomy and encourage to improve quality of universities.
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) promised to enhance education budget more than 4.5 per cent of GDP by the end of their next term, create a National Scholarship Programme, provide 10,000 scholarships for higher education and specialized technical education for students in FATA and Balochistan.
Pakistan Muslim League (F) focused on making HEC a free and independent organization through ensuring the representation of all provinces in it.
PML-N to enhance education budget to 4 pc of GDP by 2018
