ISLAMABAD – A special meeting of the Higher Education Commission (HEC)Friday, under the Chairmanship of its chairman Dr Tariq Banuri, reviewedthe implications of ongoing fiscal crisis for the higher education sector,and in particular the budgetary projections for the fiscal year 2019-20.
The commission was informed that the projected recurring budget demand ofthe higher education institutions for 2019-20 was Rs103.55 billion, whiledevelopment demand was Rs 55 billion; however the sector could faceunprecedented budget cuts of upto 50 per cent, a press release said.
“If this turns out to be true, it will bring about a massive disruption inthe provision of facilitated higher education and conduct of research,” thecommission underscored.
The commission expressed grave concerns about these indications, and calledupon the quarter concerned to ensure that adequate resources were providedto higher education institutions.
The commission directed the chairman to undertake a sensitivity analysis ofalternative budgetary scenarios, with a view to ensure that essentialprogrammes are not slashed, especially those that sustain the quality ofundergraduate education in the country.
The commission also urged vice chancellors to invest in greater efficiencyand transparency, and identify possible austerity measures which ensurethat resources were used most effectively.
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The HEC decided to accelerate the deployment of the Higher EducationManagement Information System in order to enhance transparency and enableincreased efficiency.
It directed the chairman to establish a fund raising programme for highereducation including mobilization of resources from alumni, philanthropists,industry and by attracting a broader array of students including studentsfrom foreign countries.
It requested the chairman to arrange meetings of commission members withthe high management of the government. However, the commission directed thechairman to request provincial governments to enhance their support forhigher education, including supplementary finances for universities.
The meeting was attended Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Dr Faisal Bari, Prof NisarSiddiqui, Dr Naveed Malik, Engr Ahmed Farooq Bazai, Dr Javeid Iqbal, DrBhawani Shankar Chowdhry, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science andTechnology, and representatives of the Ministry of Federal Education andProfessional Training as well as provincial governments.
