HEC Issue reporting 14-04-2011

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Education

1. HEC devolution Rabbani says problems being created deliberately , Express

Tribune , 14/04/2011.

2. HEC not being dissolved Rabbani , Daily Times , 14/04/2011.

ISLAMABAD: Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment Chairman and

Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Raza Rabbani on Wednesday said

that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) was not being dissolved.

Misunderstanding led to confusion on the issue, he said while addressing a press


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conference at the Parliament House.

He said the following functions of HEC would continue to be functional.

(a) Cause evaluation of the performance of the institution.

(b) Prescribe conditions under which institutions, for higher and technical education

including those that are not part of the state education system, may be opened and

operated.

(c) Setting up national or regional evaluation councils or authorise any existing council

or similar body to carry out accreditation of institutions, faculties and disciplines by

giving them appropriate rating.

(d) Cause to be set up testing bodies or designate any existing body for the purpose.

(e) Determine the equivalence and recognition of degrees, diplomas and certificates of

higher education awarded by unsteadiness within the country and abroad.

(f) Develop guidelines for evaluation of performance of faculty members and

institutions.

(g) Collect information and statistics on higher education and institutions as it may

deem fit.

(h) Perform such other functions consistent with the provisions of the ordinance as may

be prescribed or as may be incidental or consequential to the discharging of the

aforesaid functions. app

Education

3. Briefing on two-day girls education conference today , Daily Times , 14/04/2011.

ISLAMABAD: Pre-conference launch of the two-day international conference on

`Empowerment through Girls Education inContemporary Muslim Societies will be

held today (April14). The conference will be held on April 19-20 by Oxfam GB (OGB)

in collaboration with Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE). The sole objective of the

pre conference launch is to share the key contours of the upcoming international

conference under OGBs Girls Education Programme Advocacy Strategy. The key

agenda of the conference is to discuss the critical issues of girls education in

contemporary muslim societies like Pakistan, providing a platform to deliberate upon

and generate policy recommendations in key areas of girls education. Animated

documentary Dunya Aur Larki will be presented in the ceremony. The concept

`Dunya and Larki rotates around the life experiences of many underprivileged girls in

Pakistan. app

Education

4. HEC confusion , Daily Times , 14/04/2011.

The entire rigmarole over the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC)


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has reached new heights of misunderstanding and suspicion. Since mention of the

HECs devolution to the provinces started, the matter has remained cloudy in the heads

of most casual observers. Therefore, it merits a little clarity to distinguish the black

from the white.

The 18th Amendment was initiated, developed and passed in parliament after broad

consensus of all political parties across the board. A very important aspect of this

amendment was its commitment to decreasing the excessive over-centralisation of

government procedures, policies, ministries and affairs. Among other ministries that

were to be devolved from the centre to the provinces to ensure them greater

autonomy was the ministry of education, a fact that was outlined when the 18th

Amendment was passed. The process of devolution of ministries started some months

back and quite a few ministries have already made their way to provincial portfolios.

However, despite this consensus and despite complete constitutional obligation to fulfil

these tasks, protests have erupted on the streets, educational institutes and among some

academics to reverse the devolution of the HEC. They have cited everything from fear

of losing precious scholarships, cutting off of foreign educational aid, an end to mega

educational projects and the like.

These loud and angry voices are now making their presence felt in the National

Assembly. Due to the, reportedly, manufactured concerns of the HEC, the political

parties voiced their concern over the issue on Tuesday with the PML-N wishing to

distance itself from a matter it termed a federal subject. The PPP was anxious to get

on with its commitment of devolution and the ANP stood fast on having the devolution

take place. No matter how big the white elephant in the room the HEC one

sentiment was constant: too many rumours and conspiracies had blown the affair way

out of proportion. It is a known fact that in a heavily over-centralised state such as ours,

the more autonomy granted to the provinces, the more independent and efficient they

will become. The HEC is not being trashed in the centre per se; it is being replaced by

the Commission for Standard Higher Education, which will do exactly what its name

suggests: quality control and maintaining the standard of educational requirements such

as the curriculum, etc. Other educational matters will be deliberated upon and resolved

by the provinces.

It is now the duty of each province to make sure that this devolution occurs in the

smoothest manner possible. What needs to be scrutinised are not the haphazard

allegations that are being pushed forth by vested interests on something that is a

constitutional obligation, but how well the provinces stand up to the task of evolving

the educational ministries under their watch. Those tasked with this provincial ministry

should be men and women of enlightenment and progressive thought. They should

ensure the development of education in their respective provinces to the best of their

abilities that is where the public debate ought to begin. This matter is a

constitutional one reached by mass consensus. Those who are disrupting the process are

doing so at the real cost of education by holding it hostage to their allegations

without giving the devolution process a fair chance. *

Education

5. Education in Pakistan killing it softly! / By Dr Haider Shah , Daily Times ,

14/04/2011.

A country where a great majority firmly believes that Zakir Naik is the brightest


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scientist of the Muslim world and where murderers are garlanded by lawyers in the

court, spending money on higher education would hardly change anything. The source

of the problem is in the early education

The devolution of HEC has resulted in a fierce debate over the future of higher

education in Pakistan. Replying to the emerging chorus of criticism Mr Raza Rabbani

declared in a recent press conference that those who were opposing dismemberment of

HEC were the agents of a strong Centre. As a neutral observer, I find substance in the

arguments of both advocates and opponents of HEC devolution. To begin with, even

though research is my bread and butter, ironically I do not cherish the idea of spending

billions on research in Pakistan when millions of children do not have a decent school

to go to. Arguably research is an expensive luxury which better be left to the countries

that really understand what research is and how to benefit from it. In a poppy field you

should not expect daffodils growing. A country where a great majority firmly believes

that Zakir Naik is the brightest scientist of the Muslim world and where murderers are

garlanded by lawyers in the court, spending money on higher education would hardly

change anything. The source of the problem is in the early education which can never

be remedied by higher education at a later stage as early brain injuries are the most

difficult to heal. The counter-argument to my thinking is also persuasive though. If

billions can be spent first on raising irregular armies of jihadis and then on dismantling

them, what is wrong if a few billions are spent on higher education? Potentially, it is a

much more productive use of our taxpayers hard earned money.

Mr Raza Rabbani was very eloquent and fiery in his speech. His glittering eyes exuded

defiance of a revolutionary and face radiated zeal of a determined warrior. I was

naturally impressed. Then I heard in the news that the defence committee had approved

18 percent hike in the already whopping defence budget for the next year. The news

almost coincided with the leaked story via WikiLeaks that the army chief had vetoed

the likely agreement reached between the governments of India and Pakistan on

Kashmir in the recent past. Cynics can say that our politicians are good in showing their

valour to people like vice chancellors, as they do not carry any guns. Where their

chivalry is most needed, they simply cave in under the soothing beat of the

reconciliation song.

The debate over HEC devolution has two sides of the story. Those who support the

decision are persuaded by the devolution scheme of the 18th Amendment. This opinion,

led by Mr Raza Rabbani, contends that since education is a provincial subject, the

devolution of HEC was a natural consequence of the 18th Amendment. It is argued that

standards setting will be overseen at the national level by another body that would

replace HEC while syllabus and other micro-level issues will be devolved to the

provinces. Sceptics point to the international practices in this regard. They cite the

example of the Bologna process launched by 30 European countries in 1999, which

aimed at establishing a central authority for regulation of higher education at the

European level, ultimately culminating in establishment of European Higher Education

Authority (EHEA) by 2012. The sceptics point out that instead of working towards theestablishment of a Higher Education Commission at the SAARC level to ensure

common standards with India and Bangladesh, our policy makers have taken a giant

leap in the backward direction.

At a broader level, if the government is keen on transferring authority from the Centre

to provinces, it should then first regain authority from a central organisation which

happens to be the biggest consumer of budgetary resources and to whom government


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has almost outsourced real public policy making. Pakistans defence spending amounts

to 20 percent of its internally generated resources, one of the highest in the world. On

the contrary, education spending is less than two percent. The alarming disparity

between defence and education spending has been rightly highlighted by UNESCOs

recently released EFA (Education for All) Global Monitoring Report 2011 titled The

hidden crisis: Armed conflict and education, which states that just one-fifth of

Pakistans military spending would be sufficient to finance the universal primary

education. The war on terror is a convenient excuse for not rationalising our military

spending. The UKs military is also not only engaged in war on terror but is in the

forefront in other NATO-led operations as well. Still, the UK government has not

spared military spending from its austerity drive. Mr Raza Rabbani and his government

should show similar valour when dealing with the budgetary requests originating from

the biggest consumer of monetary resources at the Centre.

Unlike many other commentators, I do not have any personal attachment with the HEC.

I would have been more welcoming to the devolution plan if it was a part of a more

coherent national strategy on education. If the government had announced that it had

reduced defence spending by rationalising its ambitions in the region and consequently

education would be made the major consumer of budgetary resources in the near future,

we all would have welcomed the new strategy. If the government is genuinely serious

in vindicating its stand, it should do so by increasing expenditure on the education

sector in a big way. It also needs to modernise the primary level syllabus and improve

teaching quality at the foundation stages.

Platos ideal state was built around education system in his Republic. No ideal of a

prosperous and progressive country can be achieved unless the education sector is

adequately financed by the policy makers and a forward looking education policy is

implemented. If the public policy makers are reluctant to match words with money,

then they better bury the education sector forthwith. This will be an act of mercy, as the

education sector will be saved from its slow and agonising death.

The writer teaches in the UK and is the founding member of Rationalist Society of

Pakistan. He can be reached at [email protected]

6. PPP tames PML-N over HEC devolution , The Nation , 14/04/2011.

ISLAMABAD - PPP leadership finally managed to rope in Pakistan Muslim League-N

on devolution of Higher Education Commission (HEC) and its replacement with a new

body which would continue functioning at Federal level in a new role under the

umbrella of Cabinet Division.

Sources aware of these developments informed The Nation that Chairman of

Implementation Commission Mian Raza Rabbani was in constant touch with theleadership of PML-N and other parties on the subject following the public outburst

against the HEC devolution and finally convinced the leadership of PML-N on its

devolution and incorporated certain roles which PML-N leadership wanted to see with

the new body to replace HEC at Federal level.

These sources further said that Mian Raza Rabbani had a series of sessions with the

leaders of PML-N and it was agreed upon to keep the role of evaluation of the

performance of institutions dealing with higher education; opening and operations of


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the higher and technical education institutions those that are not part of the State

education system; to set up national and regional evaluation councils or authorise any

existing council or similar body to carry out accreditation of institutions, faculties and

disciplines by giving them appropriate ratings; to set up testing bodies or designate any

existing body for the purpose; determine the equivalence and recognition of degrees,

diplomas and certificates of higher education awarded by institutions within the country

and abroad; to develop guidelines for evaluation of performance of faculty members

and institutions; collect information and statistics on higher education and institutions

as it may deem fit and may publish it and perform such other functions consistent with

the provisions of the ordinance as may be prescribed or as may be incidental or

consequential to the discharging of the abovementioned functions. All the major

political parties in the Parliament agreed on the above stated functions to stay with the

HEC in its redefined role at Federal level.

However, its administrative and financial functions would be devolved to the provinces

and a legislation in this connection would be brought in the Parliament soon as all the

main parties both in the ruling coalition and in Opposition agreed to the new defined

role of the HEC which might be renamed as Standard of Higher Education Commission

and would function at Federal level as component of Cabinet Division.

Meanwhile, addressing a Press conference at Parliament House Chairman of

Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment Raza Rabbani alongwith Senator

Ishaq Dar, Naveed Qamar and Zahid Khan said that HEC would be devolved to

provinces at all costs and its redefined role would be handed over to a new body with

the nomenclature of Standard for Higher Education which would function under

Cabinet Division.

7. HEC and social engineering / By Dr Adeel Malik , Express Tribune , 14/04/2011.


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8. ISF condemns HEC dissolution , Pakistan Today , 14/04/2011.


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9. Major parties, leaders, oppose HEC death , The News International , 14/04/2011.

In an interesting scenario, three major political parties who have signed the 18th

Amendment and formed a major chunk of the National Assembly, have opposed the

controversial devolution of Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), PML-Q and Muttahida Qaumi Movement

(MQM) have openly announced their stance of retaining the HEC with the centre and

even the PML-Q Senator and leader of opposition in the upper house Wasim Sajjad has

said, on floor of the house, that it was decided to keep the HEC with the centre while

passing the 18th Amendment.

PML-Qs fourteen parliamentarians have also signed a resolution initiated by Marvi

Mammon against the HEC controversial devolution to the provinces, and have

submitted it in the National Assembly.

Moreover, PML-Ns Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal, during a press conference,

said that the 18th Amendment never meant to dissolve the HEC. The dissolution of the

HEC will cause irreparable loss to higher education and research programmes in the

country, Ahsan Iqbal held. While MQM chief Altaf Hussain has also strongly urged

upon Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to take back the decision to abolish the HEC as

it will adversely affect the system of higher education in the country. Altaf said the

HEC is a very important institution and the hasty manner in which it is being dissolved

is a cause of serious concern. He said in other parts of the world there are separate

ministries for the promotion of higher education and here in Pakistan instead of giving

proper attention to the education sector we are abolishing a highly functional institution

in a ruthless manner.

The two senior most members of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional

Reforms, having legal background; Senator SM Zafar and Senator Wasim Sajjad, both


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hailing from PML-Q have held that devolution of the HEC would be unconstitutional

because it was covered in Federal Legislative Lists and not in the Concurrent List and

the Implementation Commission cannot add anything to the Concurrent List.

Wasim Sajjad has said that it was decided to keep the HEC with the centre while

passing the 18th Amendment. He emphasized that there must be an institution in the

centre which could work for better higher education and the HEC was a regulator

therefore it should be kept with the Centre.

Senator SM Zafar who is in London these days had to issue a press release saying that

the HEC was covered in Federal Legislative List-II so its devolution will be

unconstitutional. Zafar is also the Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on

Education.

Well-placed sources told The News that Senator SM Zafar had conveyed to the

chairman HEC when 18th Amendment was being passed that the HEC was covered in

the Federal Legislative List therefore it would not be devolved. With the recent press

release of SM Zafar, the apprehensions that the government wants to teach the HEC a

lesson for taking tough stand during verification of degrees of parliamentarians has

been further endorsed.

On the other hand PPPs Mian Raza Rabbani holds that the HEC should be devolved

because it was covered in the Concurrent List. He even lost his temper in Senate the

other day when he was questioned by opposition members regarding the HECs

devolution. Awami National Party and Aftab Sherpao also supported the HECs

devolution.

10. HEC ko barqarar rakhnay ka adalti fasla khush aind hain , Jang , 14/04/2011.


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11. Higher Education commission , Jang , 14/04/2011.


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12. HEC ki tahleel roknay k par sekroon talba or talbaat ka chief justice k haq main

muzahra rahliyan , Daily Pakistan , 14/04/2011.

13. HEC har haal main tahleel kar kay omour nay idarey ko sonpay jaian gain , Nawa-

i-Waqat , 14/04/2011.


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14. HEC ki muntaqli sey pahlay 12 Vice chancellors ka ijlass bolya , Daily Pakistan ,

14/04/2011.

Documents

HEC Issue reporting 14-04-2011