Participants at second roundtable conference titled, 6 Years of 18th Constitutional Amendment: Equity and Autonomy of Universities, demanded the implementation of 18th constitutional Amendment in education especially in the higher education sector and said that the autonomy of universities should be ensured.
The conference was organised by Pakistan Social Services Partnership, a coalition of 85 civil society organisations, Civil Society Network Pakistan and other organisations at a local hotel in Lahore.
The event was presided over by former secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad and was attended by academicians, parliamentarians, university faculty, researchers and representatives of civil society.
The unanimous resolution passed in the conference states that the autonomy of universities and academic freedom at campuses must be respected by the federal/ provincial HECs, as per the true spirit of the 18th constitutional Amendment. A new commission on higher education be formed by the federal government as per the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which should repeal the existing one.
The next NFC Award must be finalised and announced immediately so that every province has adequate resources for education and health. The ban on student union must be lifted immediately. The participants also demanded that 18th amendment should be implemented in higher education sector in true spirit without any further delay.
Realising their responsibilities, the provincial governments should undertake concrete steps to strengthen provincial higher education set ups by providing adequate financial resources so that the growing needs of Pakistani universities should be met effectively.
As per UNESCO standards, 25 per cent of total education budget should be allocated for higher education in 2016-17 budget and proper utilisation of the development budget should be ensured.
The event was attended by President Council for Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami, former vice chancellor Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan Dr. Syed Alqma, former vice chancellor University of Sargodha Prof. Dr. Mohammad Akram Chaudhary, columnist Asghar Abid, AND President Civil Society Network Pakistan Prof. Dr. Abdul Hameed.
Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami said that provincial governments should realise their financial responsibilities towards promoting higher education, adding that maximum funding should be allocated for universities. Council of Common Interests should be activated to resolve the outstanding issues, he added. He suggested that the vice chancellors’ forum needs to be made effective in order to chalk out joint strategy for protecting the universities’ autonomy.
National Democratic Foundation Chairman Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad stressed the need for resolution of all the issues in education sector as per the constitution.
Hafeez ul Niazi criticised the ban on students unions and said that the unions remained nursery for leadership. He said that only autonomous universities can guarantee merit-based admissions and appointments.
Prof. Dr. Syed Alqma former vice chancellor Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan said that universities are autonomous bodies and hub for knowledge creation and proucaiton of human resource. Their autonomy should be respected like the other developed countries.
Prof. Dr. Mohammad Akram Chaudhary that the inclusion of a great number of politicians in university syndicates had adversely affected universities’ autonomy.
Asghar Abid was of the view that power should be transferred to the provinces as per 1the 18th amendment especially in education sector.
Azhar Siddique, senior advocate, stressed the need for effective measures for implementation of Article 25-A and end of political interference in education and health sectors.
The participants were of the view that with the abolition of concurrent legislative list under landmark 18th constitutional amendment; all tiers of education including higher education have become provincial subjects.
