Implementation of 18th amend in edu sector demanded
Islamabad - Pakistan Social Services Partnership (PSSP), a nationwide network of more than 100 human rights and social services civil society organisations (CSOs), has shown serious apprehensions over non-compliance of decision of the 18th Amendment Implementation Commission regarding the role of federal Higher Education Commission (HEC) as a limited body.
It has also serious reservations about formation of the committee under Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on matters pertaining to higher education in post 18th amendment scenario during the recent meeting of Council of Common Interest (CCI).
PSSP is 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.
The implementation commission constituted under Article-270 AA under the chairmanship of current Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani had decided the powers and functions of federal HEC as per the constitution.
The CCI in its meeting held on 28th April, 2011, decided that a limited extent body would continue to work as commission for standards in institutions of higher education in the light of entry no. 12 of part-II of Federal Legislative List i.e. Standard in Institutions of Higher Education and research, scientific and technical institutions. During this meeting, chairman implementation commission clarified ambiguity on question of devolution of HEC and stated that the implementation commission in the light of the 18th constitutional amendment had decided to devolve the HEC.
In the light of 18th constitutional amendment, it is now the responsibility of respective provincial governments to manage and provide financial, technical and logistical resources to the higher education institutions. But it is quite misfortune that even after the lapse of 4 years, the transfer of higher education functions to the provinces could not be streamlined.
Federal HEC is still performing functions, which are now the domain of provinces as per 18th constitutional amendment.
Terming the formation of committee by CCI to be headed by federal minister for planning a delaying tactics to further delay the implementation of decision of 18th amendment implementation commission, PSSP Chairman Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal suggests that such decisions may be avoided which may create hindrance in the implementation of constitutional provisions and deny the provinces their constitutional rights/obligations.
PSSP also demanded that the federal government should ensure the implementation of 18thconstitutional implementation in true letter and spirit. PSSP has emphasized over the provincial governments to strengthen provincial higher education set ups through provision of adequate financial resources so that the growing needs of Pakistani universities may be met in effective way.