To devolve or not to devolve

Corruption, failures, terrorism and more failures are common terms Pakistan is fashionably known for around the globe. The Higher Education commission (HEC) is an exception though, as it has brought enough pride to Pakistan in the last 6-8 years, so that everybody, from the next-door neighbours to donor agencies and the western world, have commended the outstanding institution.
Such has been the performance of the HEC since its inception in 2002 that the USAID and the British Counsel termed it as the most impressive turnaround in the history of higher education in such short time span, highlighting that no other developing nation has achieved the degree of success like Pakistan.
Now when the government has decided to do away with the HEC and instead devolve the powers to the provinces, there appears to be a gulf of divide between the academicians and the government. Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, of all men, is the most vocal in the camp that wants the HEC to stay - terming the decisions as a
ational disaster and a threat to the
ational identity.
While there is no questioning the mans calibre and repute in Pakistan and throughout the world in the fields of education, research, science & technology, his concerns may seem a bit exaggerated when he says, "Dumping HEC will be a bigger disaster than the earthquakes and floods as it will shake the very basis of the country...it is like playing in the hands of our enemies".
His reactions may have a shade of emotional attachment towards the HEC as he put in a lot of effort in making the institution what it is today, but there is no denying that some, if not all, of his concerns do carry weight and need to be looked at seriously.
It was the HEC that earned the membership of the Asia Pacific Network - which is a quality assurance agency for higher education and that helped a great deal in Pakistani degrees being recognised in regional universities without the students having to sit for an extra equivalence exam. Now, with every province having its own body, it will undoubtedly take a lot of time to achieve the same recognition abroad - which may take a long period of 8-10 years according to experts - and that is likely to push Pakistan further back.
However, the worry that the foreign funding of scholarships by the USAID, World Bank and other organisations will come to a halt once HEC is no more - seems exaggerated. The government claims that the USAID and other donors have not backed out of their funding plans and the money will continue to be pooled in, only to be divided amongst the provincial bodies.
The legal status of the issue is best left for constitutional experts, as both sides have contrasting opinions as to whether the devolution is in the spirit of the 18th amendment or against it. Whatever is the case, there is a legitimate concern that political intervention will finds its way in the handling of matters once HEC is devolved, hence polluting the system may take it to the apathetic levels of the educational institutions currently being run by provinces.
One hopes the quality aspect is not sacrificed, whatever the outcome is - as Pakistan can ill-afford to slip back ten years. A middle ground somehow needs to be found and a gradual devolution of power maybe the way out. Because if the abrupt devolution results in failure, one would be right to say, don fix it, if it ain broke.