Federal Education and Professional Training: Ministry directed to devise plan for vacant chairs

ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training Committee directed the ministry to devise a comprehensive plan to fill the vacant chairs in the next three months.

The committee met with Senator Irfanul Haq Siddiqui in the chair at the Parliament House on Thursday.

The Senate Committee was briefed on the current status of 14 Pakistan's Chairs abroad, which have been lying vacant in different academic institutions for the last 14 years.

Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary, secretary Federal Education and Professional Training, apprised that the revised memorandum of understanding (MoU), approved by the Cabinet, has been sent to nine universities for their rectification. However, the approved MoU has been rectified by Iran and Kazakhstan universities, therefore, the vacant chairs in the said countries will be advertised soon, he added.

The chairman committee directed the ministry to devise a comprehensive plan to fill the vacant chairs in the other countries. He also directed that all vacant chairs shall be filled in the next three months and requested Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad to follow up the process on a priority basis.

The Senate body also took up the matter of Peshawar University which was closed due to the death incident of security incharge. Dr Idrees, VC of Peshawar University, apprised that the culprit has been taken into custody and a committee has been constituted to probe the matter. Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi stated that the faculty members and students have raised objections over the composition of the committee and held protests but unfortunately, the university did not make any effort for the resolution of the matter. The chairman committee directed the vice chancellor to submit a reply, in writing, to allegations raised by Senator Tangi in the next meeting.

Senator Siddiqui also directed the chairman HEC to submit details of universities, funded by the HEC, and the measures taken so far by the said universities for their financial independence.

Furthermore, the committee discussed the bill titled, "The University of Management and Technology Lahore, Bill, 2023" moved by Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim. The chairman inquired as to whether the prerequisites for the said universities have been completed or not. Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, chairman HEC, stated that the University of Management and Technology is an autonomous institution and the university under the same name could not be established in Islamabad capital.

Moreover, the committee unanimously disposed of the “Harbour Institute of Management Sciences and Technology Bill,” “The Orient Institute of Science and Technology Gwadar Bill” and “The Ala-Ala University Bill” because the movers failed to make appearance for two consecutive times.

While deliberating the issue of the National Council Pakistan Bill, the chairman HEC mentioned that Technology Council has been established but its charter has not been approved yet and the approval of said charter is required for becoming member of the Sydney Accord. He further added that the charter of Technology Council is lying in the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for approval. The committee decided to write a letter to the CCI to expedite the matter.

Senator Siddiqui also raised the matter of female teachers who have been removed from their jobs after serving seven to eight years in academic institutions. He was of the opinion that substitute jobs opportunities should be provided to them so that their experiences in the field of teaching should not go wasted.

The meeting was attended by senators, Engr Rukhsana Zuberi, Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Hafiz Abdul Karim, Jam Mahtab Hussain Dahar, Molvi Fauz Muhammad, and Bahramand Khan Tangi, Secretary Federal Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary, Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, and other senior officers of relevant departments.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023