Daily Times

LAHORE: Speakers at a seminar titled ‘Challenges to Autonomy of Universities’ demanded authorities concerned to implement 18th amendment, especially in the higher education sector.

The roundtable was organised by the Pakistan Social Services Partnership (PSSP) – a coalition of 85 civil society organisations – including the Civil Society Network Pakistan, Youth Council of Pakistan, Centre for Inclusive Governance, National Democratic Foundation, at a local hotel which was attended by academicians, teachers, researchers representatives of civil society and student organisations.

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. They said that the provincial governments should undertake concrete steps to strengthen higher education by providing adequate financial resources so that the growing needs of Pakistani universities could be met effectively. As per UNESCO standards, 25 percent of total education budget should be allocated for higher education and proper utilisation of the development budget shouldbe ensured.

In his message, former Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said that dismal state of higher education in Pakistan was a matter of real concern for all. He said that as per Article 183(3), the Supreme Court should take suo motu notice of “poor performance”of Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) Secretary General Dr Mahboob Hussain said that autonomy of universities and academic freedom at campuses must be respected as per the true spirit of the 18th constitutional amendment. Degree attestation and admission tests should be conducted by the universities,
he added.

Civil Society Network Pakistan President Abdullah Malik termed establishment of the National Testing Council by the HEC a violation of constitution and court orders.

Former Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) vice chancellor Prof Dr Syed Alqma said that universities should be autonomous bodies and a hub for knowledge creation of human resource. “Their autonomy should be respected.”

Senior analyst Salman Abid was of the view that power should be transferred to the provinces as per the 18th amendment, especially in higher education sector.

He said that inclusion of a great number of politicians in universities’ syndicates had adversely affected universities’ autonomy and performance. He said that devolution along with decentralisation of powers was only solution to problems being faced by Pakistan in social sector.