JUNE was suppose to be quite decisive for private universities in the country, as Higher Education Commission (HEC) was suppose to close down those, which did not meet its minimum criteria Earlier, HEC had warned substandard private universities across the country to fulfill the minimum criteria laid down in this connection otherwise these might face closures and withdrawal of charters converting these into colleges.
For the first time in 2002, the Chancellors’ Committee meeting, chaired by President Musharraf, had set a deadline of February 28, 2007 for private degree awarding institutes to meet the criteria in five years time. In 2005, HEC published "Parent Alert" advertisements in national newspapers warning people about the substandard private universities. The move had sparked a controversy and a number of private universities had criticized HEC saying that the advertisements did not have a healthy impression on students of such institutions while these institutes were in process of improving their standards. Interestingly in 2006, the Chancellors Committee meeting decided to extend the deadline till June 30, 2008.
In 2007, the HEC had relaxed its criteria for the establishment of an institution of higher education in the private sector. Reportedly, HEC had amended the criteria following requests of provincial governments, especially of the Punjab.
In this regard, HEC Attestation & Accreditation Director General Muhammad Javed Khan said the Chancellors Committee had decided to curb the menace of mushrooming substandard universities by not granting charters to them without adequate PhD holders in its faculty. "It had been decided in principle to close down institutions or to convert these to colleges on June 30, 2008, which don’t meet the minimum criteria," he said. Replying to a question, he said almost all the private universities in Punjab had improved and met the criteria owing to which action was unlikely in Punjab in June. However, he expressed his dissatisfaction over performance of some universities in Sindh and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. He said final action regarding closure or withdrawal of charters will taken by the Chancellors Committee.
Academic circles have urged the government not to extend the deadline this time and take stern action against such private universities, which are not meeting criteria set for this purpose. They said no compromise should be made on quality and standard of education.
For the first time in 2002, the Chancellors’ Committee meeting, chaired by President Musharraf, had set a deadline of February 28, 2007 for private degree awarding institutes to meet the criteria in five years time. In 2005, HEC published "Parent Alert" advertisements in national newspapers warning people about the substandard private universities. The move had sparked a controversy and a number of private universities had criticized HEC saying that the advertisements did not have a healthy impression on students of such institutions while these institutes were in process of improving their standards. Interestingly in 2006, the Chancellors Committee meeting decided to extend the deadline till June 30, 2008.
In 2007, the HEC had relaxed its criteria for the establishment of an institution of higher education in the private sector. Reportedly, HEC had amended the criteria following requests of provincial governments, especially of the Punjab.
In this regard, HEC Attestation & Accreditation Director General Muhammad Javed Khan said the Chancellors Committee had decided to curb the menace of mushrooming substandard universities by not granting charters to them without adequate PhD holders in its faculty. "It had been decided in principle to close down institutions or to convert these to colleges on June 30, 2008, which don’t meet the minimum criteria," he said. Replying to a question, he said almost all the private universities in Punjab had improved and met the criteria owing to which action was unlikely in Punjab in June. However, he expressed his dissatisfaction over performance of some universities in Sindh and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. He said final action regarding closure or withdrawal of charters will taken by the Chancellors Committee.
Academic circles have urged the government not to extend the deadline this time and take stern action against such private universities, which are not meeting criteria set for this purpose. They said no compromise should be made on quality and standard of education.
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