Islamabad - Federal Minster for Education and Professional on Monday stressed the need to appoint heads of higher education institutions on merit thereby discouraging the culture of extension in education sector.
Federal Minster for Education and Professional Engr. Muahmmad Baligh Ur Rehman said this in a meeting held with the delegation of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA).
The minister stated that adhocism and the extension culture in higher education sector should be discouraged and appointment should be made through a transparent and merit based mechanism by an independent search committee.
The delegation led by Prof. Dr Kaleem Ullah Bareach comprising Prof. Fareed Khan Achakzai, Dr Shehzad Ashraf briefed and presented the problems being faced by university faculty in higher education sector both at federal and provincial levels.
Minister said that provincial governments should play their due role and meet the growing needs of higher education sector and universities through provision of required funding in the light of 18th Constitutional Amendment.
The delegation also presented the unanimous resolution of All Pakistan University Teachers Convention which resolved extending retirement age for university teachers from 60 to 65 and restoration of tax rebate up to 75 per cent for universities faculty and researchers.
The delegation urged the implementation of 18th constitutional amendment in higher education sector in true letter and spirit through confining the role of Federal Higher Education Commission (HEC).
FAPUASA also stressed upon the appointment of competent heads through a transparent and merit based approach. FAPUASA stressed that the heads must be able to speak fluent English to prevent the institution from becoming a pray of translators.
The minister appreciated FAPUASA services for betterment of higher education and assured the delegation for his support and cooperation for resolving the issues being faced by university faculty.
In a separate event, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) announced that it has been ranked 401-500 in the 2018 Times Higher Education (THE) ranking in Life Sciences subject ranking which indeed is a noteworthy achievement for the institute.
In the recently announced rankings by Times Higher Education World Universities Rankings, CIIT was also placed among 601-800 in the World’s Best Universities. Furthermore CIIT was ranked # 301-400 in 2018 Times Higher Education (THE) ranking in the subject of Engineering & Technology.
