ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on Wednesday asked the Federal Minister for Education Muhammad Balighur Rahman and Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad to resolve the issue being faced by the students of Islamabad Law College.
The federal education minister assured the committee that the education ministry and HEC would try to find a solution to the issue of Islamabad Law College, affiliated with Islamia University of Bahawalpur.
The committee met here under the chairmanship of Senator Rahila Magsi, and was attended by Senator Azam Swati, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Senator Sehar Kamran, Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak, National Commission for Human Development Chairman Razina Alam Khan, HEC chairman, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) Director General Zulifqar Ahmad Cheema and other relevant officials.
HEC chairman, while briefing the committee members, said that the college was allegedly involved in selling fake degrees. He said that the HEC warned the said college not to take new admissions and directed it to resolve the issue within six months.
He said that the college refused to follow the orders of HEC and started further admissions after getting a stay order from the court.
Dr Mukhtar said that HEC had warned the students and parents about fake educational institutions through an alert published in daily newspapers and on its website.
On the other hand, Nauman Wazir said that it was not enough to issue only an alert, adding that HEC should have closed the institution to set a strict example for other illegal colleges.
Dr Mukhtar said that illegal institutions have become a major issue in the country, while suggesting that detailed presentations should be delivered on the issue to identify all illegal educational institutions throughout the country.
He further said that a few students wanted to buy degrees with money, adding that such practices would not be allowed to take root.
Speaking on the occasion, Balighur Rahman said that new curriculum for educational institutions was being prepared, in which civic and democratic subjects would also be included to educate students about democracy and its working.
It was decided during the meeting that The Apprenticeship Bill 2017 would be passed after detailed discussion by the senators, NAVTTC and education ministry representatives.
