LAHORE: Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani on Tuesday chaired a performance evaluation meeting at the Punjab University. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zakriya Zakir, Registrar Dr Khalid Khan, all deans, directors, hostel wardens and representatives from HED were present in the meeting held at the university’s executive club. The provincial minister formulated a five-member committee to resolve the teacher’s promotion issues immediately. The committee will submit its report in a week. The pro-chancellor also made a three-member committee to give practical suggestions to improve university’s ranking and resolving pending issues. This committee will submit its report in two weeks. Gillani said that the committee’s recommendations would be implemented in letter and spirit. The higher education minister directed the university administration to adjust the ratio of teachers and students to 1/30 as per the international standards. He directed the vice chancellor to fill all the budgeted seats as soon as possible by following all the legal requirements and merit. Addressing the meeting, Gillani said that university teachers should play their role in promoting the culture of modern research in students. He directed Punjab Higher Education Commission to establish a teacher training academy. Talking to the media, he said that the government was taking steps to improve the university’s ranking. “We are working on a one-point agenda that is to enhance the country’s higher education standards. Our goal is to bring five government universities, including Punjab University, to top rankings in the first round. There is no room for miscreants in the university,” he said. He said that the decisions of disciplinary committee would be implemented. The minister said that the violation of the discipline would not be tolerated at any cost. “We are resolving university’s issues on priority basis so that its rankings may improve. We are also working on a project to establish new universities in all 36 districts across Punjab,” he said.
Published in Daily Times, January 31st 2018.