Monday, April 18, 2011

Doctor Abdul Qadeer Khan is giving his view about devolution of HEC

Doctor Abdul Qadeer Khan is giving his view about devolution of HEC - Informative Article published in jang newspaper

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Ye Ho Jaye Ga by Javed Chaudhry

Ye Ho Jaye Ga by Javed Chaudhry Ye Ho Jaye Ga by Javed Chaudhry A very informative article from famous column writer JAVED CHAUDHRY...he revilled truth about devolution of HEC in his words.

Demonstration against HEC dissolution in front of Pakistani Embassy Vienna, Austria. 11/4/2011

Monday, April 11, 2011

Saving the HEC : The writer is professor of political science at LUMS

Institution building is an arduous task, and it requires vision, strategy, resources and leadership. It takes consistent efforts, teamwork and perseverance to realise an institution’s mission. There are many institutions, some known and widely publicised and some not so known and doing good work quietly, that we have built in different fields of national life. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is one of the institutions that we can be very proud of. What has it done that merits our praise and protection, and why does it need to be retained?
In my view, it has played a key role in expanding the national network of public universities and establishing standards for higher education. In my recent visit to the University of Gujrat, the sight of its beautiful brand new buildings, with a medical college and other faculties, set on previously agricultural land attached to a shrine, illustrated something refreshing about the growth of the university system in Pakistan. There are 9,000 students on campus and in its constituent colleges, and what is more inspiring is that 70 per cent of the students enrolled are girls who come from remote villages and small towns of the area. This is just one example of a university that is not much known to the public.
Having been an academic myself for about four decades now, I have never seen so much flow of useful information from the HEC to improve the quality and standards of instruction, as I have observed during the past few years — something that non-performing institutions and academics find intrusive.
Higher education in public and private sectors has really taken off well through the HEC, which at this stage needs to be consistent with an eye on quality, rather than be replaced by a new department. Two areas need to be mentioned in this respect: The number of scholarships to pursue higher studies in Pakistan and abroad through a transparent and open merit system as well as grants for fellowship, scientific research and conferences. The scale of what has been and is currently being done in these fields is unparalleled in the history of our country. The HEC leadership persuasively sold its vision of uplifting higher education, notably to the Musharraf regime, which responded with greater, truly unprecedented flow of funds for this previously neglected sector.
All good institutions, and even the best ones, need evaluation, reform and constant restructuring to improve. The HEC cannot be an exception to this natural rule of development. Most of the critique over the years has come from two types of commentators. One is from the usual cynic brigade that sees no good happening in Pakistan, anywhere or by anyone except for what they do — spread pessimism and read our progress as accidental or inadequate. Others have set standards comparable to the best in international academia. Yes, we must raise our standards as high as possible but we must never loosen our grasp of the realities and constraints within which we function. The point that the HEC could do better in almost every area of its activity is valid, as it can be in the case of any other institution. This kind of critique is constructive in that its motive is the institution’s betterment.
Today, the issue is very different, it is not of reform and restructuring of the HEC but of its disinvestment and disbanding. The reasons why this is being done are shrouded in legality but have either political motivation or lack appropriate appreciation of what the HEC has accomplished or how, given its strengths and experience, it can contribute to the advancement of higher education in the country. Foreign scholarships, educational standards and evaluation of degrees and university performance are absolutely compatible with the letter and spirit of the 18th Amendment. Disintegration of the HEC will empower no one, do no good, save nothing.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2011.

Article source

Descriptive Cartoon Animation about Devolution of HEC

Fakers attack on HEC (in cartoon & animation)

Stop dissolving of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Message from Dr. Atta ur Rahman to Students of PAKISTAN

Dear Colleagues

In a shocking move, the present government approved the shredding of the Higher Education Commission into pieces and handing the functions to the provinces. The Cabinet formally approved this last week.

This was illegal as HEC was a Federal Regulatory Authority and protected under the 18th amendment of the Constitution like other Federal Regulatory Authorities . It was also completely autonomous, and reported directly to the Prime Minister. However it was treated as if it was a part of the Ministry of Education, and since the Ministry of Education was being devolved, so this was too. HEC had developed many enemies when I was its Chairman as I was determined to strictly follow merit and not compromise on principles. Dr. Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director, continued these policies, after I resigned, as did the new Chairman Dr. Javaid Laghari. This annoyed many Parliamentarians, specially on the matter of forged degrees as HEC refused to testify them as genuine.

This is disastrous for the future of Pakistan as it will lead to horrendous problems. it will lead to multiplicity of standards and cause the same chaotic situation that exists in our schools. It will also lead to massive corruption as the provincial governments will now be able to exert direct pressures to appoint their cronies at key positions in universities. Greedy politicians have their eyes on university lands worth hundreds of billions of rupees and these can be swallowed after appointment of their own persons at key positions. Universities that are favourites will be better funded and the formula-based funding evolved by HEC will vanish. The $ 300 million committed by the World Bank and $ 250 million agreed to by US AID will also no longer be available as these were linked to the status of HEC not being changed. The written commitment of the Ministry of Finance with the World Bank to give sizeable increases in funding to HEC, resulting in doubling of its recurring and development budgets over the next 3 years will also now no longer be honoured as funding will now be a provincial responsibility except for the few Federal Universities. Most importantly, the national focus to train manpower in key areas of national importance, in harmony with the long term development plans, will be replaced by a fragmented approach.

I recently held a Press Conference in Islamabad on the platform of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (of which I am now President) calling upon the government to reverse this decision to shred HEC. I also discussed the matter with Dr. A.Q.Khan who wrote an article for The News. This was published (as views expressed by him) in The News (Islamabad edition) 2 days ago and in the Karachi edition yesterday.

I have also written an article which is attached. It should be published in a national newspaper within a couple of days.

I would like each of you to take a strong stand on the matter and write articles in national newspapers urging the government to reverse this decision.. We cannot be bystanders as the HEC is shredded into pieces. This was one sector that was working well, six years of my life went in into building this vibrant institution as its founding Chairman. The work of HEC drew much international praise. Alas it has now been destroyed.

Will you act?

Kind regards

Atta

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atta_ur_Rahman

NI,HI,SI,TI, UNESCO Science Laureate