Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) as well as some vice chancellors have rejected the decision of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) that seeks to establish its own National Testing Council (NTC) for the purpose to conduct entrance and scholarship tests for the universities.

As per notification, a copy of which is available with Daily Times, the HEC on January 25 formally announced the commencement of NTC among all institutions concerned. “The council shall be an independent, professional and resourceful set-up for conducting tests and examination in a standardised fair and transparent manner. The ETC shell concentrate on holding valid and reliable testing for entrance exams for admission to academic degree programmes in the higher education institutions of Pakistan as well as for scholarships and employment in the HEC and other national, international agencies. The Chairperson of the Commission shall be the competent authority of the ETC”, reads the notification.

It further stated that one half of the members of the council shall constitute the quorum of the meetings of the council wherein the decisions shall be taken and expressed through a majority vote.

President of FAPUASA Dr. Asif said that as per the Commission’s Act the HEC has no authority to constitute such a testing entity. He said that the actual powers of HEC lies with its 17-member board which deliberated the issue in length and had rejected the idea. As per the board’s suggestion the involvement of HEC itself to conduct tests, will cause a conflict of interest, he added.

Dr Ali, moreover, quoted the Lahore High Court (LHC) judgment regarding this issue. That reads “the HEC through proper channel will propose amendment in the ordinance/rules in order to provide a proper regulatory framework for establishing, monitoring and supervising a ‘national testing service’ till such time that a proper legislation is in place. Higher Education Commission will not initiate the process of selecting and appointing a national testing body under the ordinance”. He further informed that to conduct admission tests through ETC is also in violation of respective university Acts as there is no such provision.

While sharing main recommendations of the Task Force on Improvement of Higher Edu-cation in Pakistan in March 2002, Dr Ali revealed that “Universities are the pillars of the higher education system. They must have autonomy from all extraneous influences in order to govern and manage their academic, administrative, and financial functions”.

In the recommendations, it was also said that the very purpose of formation of the Higher Education Commission was to protect autonomy of the universities, which was eroded to some extent because of intrusiveness of the UGC.