The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training while scrutinising Rs 5 billion Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) proposed by the ministry said that it cannot be treated like a rubberstamp to approve its budget without having an in-depth review.
The committee met with Senator Rahila Magsi in the chair, here on Tuesday where it was decided that a one-point agenda meeting will be held during the next week to review the PSDP thoroughly.
Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak said that a breakdown of the proposed budget must be submitted with the committee. He stressed the need to curb the new projects and use funds to maintain running educational institutions in Islamabad.
Nauman proposed that the repair and maintenance of educational institutions should be carried out instead of building new schools. However, the education officials stated that there is shortage of schools and teachers, and there is a need to build new educational institutions.
He further raised questions over the performance of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), saying what its performance during the last five years was. "Are Pakistani universities among the best universities globally?" he asked.
The committee was further informed that there is shortage of funds for repair and maintenance of educational institutions. To this, Nauman replied that the HEC has funds and why these funds should not be converted for schools rehabilitation.
The PSDP cannot be used for maintenance and repair purposes of old schools, stressed the Ministry for Federal Education and Professional Training.
Senator Engineer Rukhsana Zuberi said that it is important that the process is reviewed to take things forward.
Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed seconding Rukhsana's views said that this is a faulty policy and must be revisited. This discussion came up while reviewing the dilapidated condition of Islamabad Model School for Boys (IMSB 8), Sector F-6/2, Islamabad, referred by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi. He informed the committee that there are almost 400 such schools in Islamabad.
Rahila Magsi directed the ministry that details of all schools mentioned in the list must be presented to the committee in the next meeting.
A subcommittee was formed under the chairmanship of Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed to review the matter thoroughly.
While discussing the regularisation policy for contractual and daily wages teaching and non-teaching staff in the federal capital, the committee was informed that these cases are being scrutinised, a claim that was refuted by the contractual employees.
Rahila Magsi directed the ministry that the matter be resolved at the earliest and the Supreme Court's orders be implemented in letter and spirit. The ministry assured the committee that the matter will be resolved by June 30, 2019.
While taking notice of the public petition with respect to regularisation of contractual officers (from BPS-17 and BPS-18) of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) referred by the chairman Senate on February 21, 2019, the ministry informed the committee that regularisation of BPS-17 and 18 is authorised only through the NAVTTC Board, that was constituted on January 25, 2019.
The issue was placed before the Board in its first meeting held on February 06, 2019. The Board constituted a committee to deliberate on all the human resource issues and come up with a concrete recommendation. The recommendations were finalised in a meeting on March 21, 2019.
Executive Director NAVTTC, Dr Nasir Khan informed the committee that the aforementioned recommendations will be placed before the NAVTTC Board for consideration and approval in its upcoming meeting scheduled on May 06, 2019. The committee chairperson directed Dr Nasir that the compliance report be sent to this committee at the earliest.
The 'Area Study Centre (Amendment Bill 2017),' moved by Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, was recommended unanimously by the committee.
Chairman HEC Dr Tariq Banuri informed the committee that the HEC does not have any reservations over the new amendments.
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