Latest news with #HigherEducationCommission
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Capital schools to get high-speed internet
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication will provide high-speed internet and fibre-optic connectivity to 532 schools in Islamabad. According to an official from the Ministry, the government has declared early education in artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, and emerging technologies a national priority. This move is part of the Prime Minister's vision for a "Digital Nation Pakistan," focused on building a skilled and future-ready workforce. The official added that the government is also working to improve the quality of education, aiming to help school and college graduates become more employable. To support this, a high-level committee has been formed to review the current IT curriculum, emphasising job-oriented skills. Although education is provincial, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Ministry of Education, and the National Curriculum Council are jointly upgrading the national syllabus. As part of these reforms, the government is reviewing AI and IT curricula for students from grade 6 to 12. Over 100 model schools and colleges have already been equipped with smart classrooms, labs, and digital screens, the official said, adding that the government also plans to expand digital education to remote areas through EdTech and hybrid learning models.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Experts warn of crisis over HEC budget cuts
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is facing serious challenges due to significant budget cuts and reduced funding. Despite soaring inflation and rising operational costs, the annual budget allocation for the HEC has been limited to only Rs39.48 billion. Education experts have called for an increase in HEC's budget and urged the government to declare an "education emergency" to ensure access to higher education for every child. According to official documents, the government has allocated Rs39.48 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 140 ongoing and 12 new schemes. These include: The Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme for students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, and other friendly countries; construction of the academic block at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University; development of the main campus of Bacha Khan University; upgradation of blocks at the University of Baltistan; establishment of sports academies; organisation of Youth Olympics and expansion of the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi. Additionally, Rs1 billion has been earmarked for the third phase of the Fulbright Scholarship Support Programme, while Rs2.3 billion has been set aside for the Overseas Scholarships Programme for MS/MPhil students. Another Rs3.67 billion has been allocated for the PhD scholarship programme under Phase I of the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor. The Pak-Korea Nutrition Centre will receive Rs800 million. It is worth noting that in 2018, the HEC's development budget stood at Rs46.23 billion. Seven years later, despite sharp increases in inflation and operational costs, the budget for FY 202526 has been slashed to Rs39.48 billion. Educationists argue that to improve literacy, expand access to higher education, and drive socio-economic development, the government must declare an education emergency and increase the education budget.
Business Recorder
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Govt to give away 4,500 scholarships to students from Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Government of Pakistan has decided to award 4,500 scholarships to students from Afghanistan under mega initiative of Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships Programme, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) announced the decision on Friday. As many as 350 Afghan students have reached Pakistan initially to pursue studies in top-tier Pakistani universities across diverse disciplines under the HEC Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships to Afghan Students (Prime Minister's Directives). The HEC held a reception to welcome the students at the HEC Regional Centre, Peshawar. In addition, 50 PhDs and 100 Master's students will also join in September 2025 to pursue their education in Pakistan. The development marks a significant milestone in academic cooperation and people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The students will undergo a specially-designed preparatory course before their admission in the fall semester. On their arrival, the students were received by In-charge HEC Regional Centre Peshawar Nasir Shah and Project Director Allama Iqbal Scholarships Programme Jehanzeb Khan. Representatives of National University of Technology (NUTECH) Islamabad and National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES-FAST) Faisalabad were also present on the occasion. The Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships Programme reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Afghanistan to deepening educational collaboration with a spirit of Islamic brotherhood and neighbourhood. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Vision 2047: HEC chief for strengthening higher education sector
ISLAMABAD: Amid serious financial constraints and governance challenges, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed has reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening Pakistan's higher education sector under Vision 2047, with a strong focus on accessibility, technology integration, and institutional development. Speaking to the media, Dr Ahmed stated that Pakistan currently spends less than 1.9 percent of GDP on overall education sector and around 0.2 percent on higher education which is the lowest in the region. However, he said the government aims at ensuring modern educational facilities for 1.5 million youth. He was optimistic that several universities would be among the top universities of the world in coming years. Under the P-10 project, the top 10 universities in the country will be selected for targeted quality enhancement. In the first phase, 100 smart classrooms have already been established, while 200 more are under construction. Highlighting the significant progress since the formation of HEC in 2001, Dr Ahmed noted that the number of universities has grown from 59 to 370 (both public and private), and the student population has increased from under 3.5 million to over 8.5 million. Yet, he stressed that this number is still insufficient given Pakistan's growing youth population. 'Our target is to expand access and capacity further, especially in underserved regions,' he said. One of the most remarkable statistics he shared was that approximately 48 per cent of university students in Pakistan are female, a figure he called 'a surprise to the world' and a testament to the country's evolving education landscape. Dr Ahmed emphasised the importance of technology in education. Under the High-Performance Computing (HPC) initiative and cloud computing, students can now attend classes remotely, and teachers can deliver lectures from home — a shift that ensures academic continuity during emergencies. He added that the reliance on expensive computing infrastructure is being reduced, making education more accessible. Despite the progress, challenges remain. Only 28 per cent of university faculty holds PhDs, up from a previous 24 per cent, and efforts are underway to increase this ratio. Over 6,000 students have been sent abroad on scholarships, reflecting the country's focus on building a skilled academic workforce. He also acknowledged resistance from some Vice Chancellors regarding the implementation of the Higher Education Data Repository (HEDR), a system meant to improve digital governance in higher education. The chairman stressed that academic-industry linkages are being promoted, with two universities recently recognised internationally for producing globally competitive graduates. Meanwhile, the $400 million World Bank-funded Higher Education Development Project (HEDP) is supporting faculty development, research, innovation, infrastructure upgrades, and strengthening the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE). Dr Ahmed concluded by stating that the HEC is not only enhancing higher education in urban centres but is also extending resources to backward regions to ensure equal opportunities for all. He emphasised that instead of merely increasing the number of institutions, the focus will remain on improving the quality and governance of existing universities. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM wants IT training programmes for youth
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses a ceremony organized on the eve of 249th anniversary of Independence Day of United States of America on June 4, 2025. Photo: PID Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced plans to develop a sustainable and modern Information and Communication System in Pakistan, aimed at positioning the country as a regional hub for the information technology (IT) sector. Chairing a review meeting on the development of the IT training ecosystem in Pakistan, the prime minister emphasized the importance of equipping youth with modern, market-driven skills to support local transformation. He stressed that training programmes must be designed to ensure employment opportunities for participants. Shehbaz also underscored the need to provide competent IT professionals to local companies, enabling them to meet international standards and contribute to foreign exchange earnings. He directed that clear terms of reference be drafted for consultancy services related to the training system. He directed the Federal Education Ministry, Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Neotech to work together with the IT Ministry to impart trainings in schools, colleges and universities level. The IT training should be ensured in summer camps during the current summer vacations, he said. The meeting was informed that recently the trained Pakistani students made the country proud by winning the first three positions, not only in China, but other competitions also, which was contested by 200,000 students from across the world. The prime minister was briefed that a target had been set to give training to 50,000 trainers in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad, keeping in view modern technology and contemporary requirements. Separately, the prime minister met with a United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation, led by Deputy Minister Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah, and expressed his desire to benefit from the UAE's experiences of its modern management system. Shehbaz said that Pakistan had taken steps such as digitisation and paperless economy to improve its administrative structure. In addition, a faceless customs system has also been implemented, said a separate press release issued by the PMO Media Wing. On the occasion, Lootah said that the UAE was happy to exchange experiences and information with Pakistan. Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz and Minister Lootah witnessed the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries. Under this MoU, the two countries will cooperate in improving government performance by exchanging knowledge and mutual experience, guidance and development models in the fields of development planning, public sector reforms, human resource, urban planning, and science and technology. (WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
