Punjab government to review HEC decision to abolish BA, MA programmes

Lahore: The government of Punjab has announced to ‘review’ the decision of the central Higher Education Commission (HEC) to end the 2 years BA/BSc and MA/MSc programmes. The officials of Provincial education have said that they cannot replace the current system within a year.

The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has been told to review the decision and to formulate a strategy in this regard.

Punjab Higher Education Commission was asked to produce a report within a week while the provincial authorities have started consultations from Monday.

Read More: Criticism on HEC’s decision to abolish 2 years BA/BSc & MA/MSc programmes

Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani ordered the Punjab Higher education commission to review the letter of HEC and submit the report.

While replying to a question, the minister said that the 2-year BA and MA programmes will just be phased-out in the province, according to the issued letter of HEC, after PHEC finalized the decision.

While talking to media sources, the Director General of Punjab Higher Education commission Dr Shahid Soroya said that it was not possible for Punjab to end the current system within a year and replace it along with a new one.

He furthermore said that there were a large number of colleges in Punjab and this type of change could not be made in a shorter period of time. Gilani further said that reformation was needed in the college education system for the emergence of these strategies.

Dr Shahid said that it was not possible to launch a 4-year BS programme at every college of the province and the decision will be taken on a “case-to-case” basis.

Some colleges will offer the associate programme while other colleges will offer the BS programme.

Read More: Parents kill Lahore school principal for scolding their son

“We will discuss with the vice chancellors, government sector colleges, principals of government colleges as well as the shareholders before submitting the findings to the minister,” said Soraya.

He furthermore added PHEC wanted to devise a workable plan that will not spoil the education system, particularly will not harm the students.