ISLAMABAD: The interview process for the slot of Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairperson ended on Friday amid many questions over the criteria adopted by the interviewing committee which contradicts fundamental rules, Daily Times has learnt. The post of HEC chairperson has been vacant since April 15 when Dr Mukhtar Ahmed completed his four years’ term serving against the post. As per available information, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who is the controlling authority of the commission formed a search committee for the post which comprises of six members including former minister Dr Sania Nishtar, former parliamentarian Shahnaz Wazir Ali, educationist Faisal Bari, Mirza Qamar Baig and the education ministry secretary while senior educationist and philanthropist Syed Babar Ali is the convener of the committee. According to HEC Act 2012, the chairperson should have international eminence and proven ability to lead HEC while he/she should have significant contributions in higher education as a teacher, researcher or administrator. The sources in the education ministry revealed that around 120 applications were received while after scrutinising almost 100 candidates were called for interviews. The interviews for the post were held three days from April 18-20. “All applicants who were non-PhD were dropped for the interview by the committee. Besides, the candidates who have designations of associate professor were also not made part of the interviews,” said an official privy to the whole procedure, wishing not to be quoted. The academic circles as well as some candidates have shown their serious reservastions over this matter. Besides this, the search committee also included the age limit requirement in the set criteria which was not compulsory in the HEC act. Moreover, the educationists were of the view that rules should be kept on top priority in the whole process. HEC former chief Dr Attaur Rehman, who was among the founding members of the commission, told this correspondent that including age restriction in the process, may deprive any qualified candidate who fulfills all other requirements. Dr Attaur Rehman suggested that it was a very key position and should be filled very prudently and the set rules in the act should be kept on top priority. The educationists regretted that several candidates whom reputation is under dearth and their alleged corruption cases are being probed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were also interviewed for the post. Some of them, they added, have been served as vice chancellors and against key positions in the HEC. They further alleged that no serious effort was made to ensure transparency in the process. No qualitative and quantitative criteria was developed nor shared with the candidates. “Despite serious objections from academia, civil society and academic staff association, certain candidates with controversial background were also included in the process whose cases and inquiries regarding misuse of authority, illegal appointments and corruption have already been taken up by NAB,” said a vice chancellor of a private university who himself was among the interviewees but wished anonymity. He further alleged that some of the officials of the ministry of federal education also tried to affect the process through singling out certain potential candidates. “I have looked at the composition of the committee. I am dismayed by the fact that the said committee is completely dominated by representatives of the private sector. Perhaps the only member from the public sector is the secretary of the education ministry, because that could not be avoided. The absolute control of the search committee by the private sector is highly questionable,” the VC said in a written statement, adding that the committee, comprising almost entirely of individuals from the private sector, is going to select a panel for a position in the public sector that carries the status of a minister of state of the government of Pakistan which in itself is quite astonishing and disturbing. Published in Daily Times, April 21st 2018.