Lahore, The government has prepared a new legal draft to deprive HEC of its key functions that would ultimately cover the way for constitution of a new commission as proposed in the past.

An important government official said, “The university teachers’ associations, vice-chancellors of public sector universities and even chairman and executive director of HEC have been taken into confidence and there would be no resistance this time to decentralize HEC, as happened in the past after passage of the 18th Amendment.”

According to the legal draft sent to HEC for comments last month by the federal cabinet, 8 out of 25 functions would be kept under the domain of HEC while the rest would be transferred to various departments. It is being assumed that it was the same draft that was presented by the implementation commission before the SC decision and now the government is using it again to devolve HEC. In its reply, HEC insisted that all 25 functions are extremely important and should be dealt under the ambit of HEC.

The draft suggested transfer of degree verification cell to Cabinet Division, control of public sector universities operating in Islamabad to ICT administration, foreign scholarship programmes to Foreign Affairs Division and the welfare of international students to Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry. It has been decided that Commission for Standards of Higher Education would be established and the core function of degree recognition, equivalence and attestation would be transferred to this new commission.

According to official data, HEC has renewed the contracts of 12 director generals including one DG Services. Among 12 DGs, five DGs are of MP scales that are enjoying all the perks and privileges besides getting handsome salaries. “If HEC is really serious to resolve the budget issues then it has to take a start by shrugging off the additional staff,” said a senior teacher of a local university.

Federation of All Pakistan Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) Vice President Prof. Kaleemullah Bareach talking to ‘The News’ alleged that HEC has become a ‘white elephant’ and people are being inducted on high salaries despite shortage of funds. The sources said the university teachers’ associations are also constantly raising questions about alleged favoritism, promotions and misappropriation of funds provided for promotion of higher education sector in the country.

HEC Chairperson Dr. Javaid Leghari said that they do not really think to raise their voice against devolution at this moment. “The situation is not so critical that we should raise our voice now. We would start our campaign against devolution whenever we feel like,” he said.

Replying to a question regarding the allegations by FAPUASA, he said that FAPUASA was not happy because their demands are not met. “Whatever demands they have are not in the jurisdiction of HEC. Sometimes it is chancellor, who can meet their demands and sometimes it is vice chancellor, who can take steps in this regard. HEC has got nothing to do with it,” he said.